# Accident 20000704037139A: Schler ASW20, Gregory, MI, July 4, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2000, 11:50 local time
- Place: Gregory, MI
- Airport: Richmond Field Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.4507° N, 84.0803° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4507&lon=-84.0803&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4804W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4804W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-20 (registry code 3801506, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA188) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000704037139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT REPORTED TAKE OFF TOW WAS NORMAL UNTIL JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. THE ELEVATOR CONTROL SEEMED TO HAVE REDUCED EFFECTIVENESS. CONTINUED TAKE OFF, TURNED CROSS WIND AND THEN DOWN WIND. AT THEIS POINT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS INEFFECTIVE ENOUGH THAT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN A POSITION ABOVE THE SLIP STREAM OF THE TOWING AIRCRAFT AND DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE FLIGHT. HE WAS AT ABOUT 1000 FEET AND 60 KNOTS. HE TURNED BASE AND MADE AN UNCONTROLLED LANDING TO ONE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. ELEVATOR CONTROL PREVENTED GOOD AIRSPEED CONTROL. FLAPS AND SPOILERS WERE NOT USED BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PITCH ATTITUDE OF GLIDER. GLIDER BOUNCED 50 FEET INTO AIR ON LANDING AND TAIL CONE BROKE OFF. GLIDER CAME TO REST RIGHT SIDE UP WITH TAIL UNDER RIGHT WING. INSPECTION OF GLIDER CONTROLS AND SYSTEMS AFTER THE ACCIDENT DID NOT LEAD TO ANY CONCLUSION ON THE CAUSE OF REDUCED CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS. POSSIBLE THAT PARACHUTE (CHSUION TYPE) MAY HAVE REDUCED THE AFT TRAVEL OF STICK LIMITING ELEVATOR ACTION. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI00LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA188), Jul 4, 2000: Schleicher ASW-20L (N4804W), Gregory, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the control stick movement being restricted by the pilot's seat-type parachute and the excessive descent rate and airspeed during landing. A factor to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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