# Accident 20030615011669A: Schler ASW20, Idyllwild, CA, June 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 15, 2003, 15:00 local time
- Place: Idyllwild, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7333° N, 116.7333° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7333&lon=-116.7333&mi=10
- Aircraft: N34LB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34LB-2004-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher ASW-20 (registry code 3801506, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,003 total, 700 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03CA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA201) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030615011669A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 15, 2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHLEICHER ASW-20 GLIDER, N34LB, COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS IN MOUNTAINIOUS TERRAIN ABOUT 3.3 MILES EAST OF IDYLLWILD, CALIFORNIA. THE GLIDER, WHICH WAS DESTROYED, WAS REGISTERED TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT WHO HOLDS A PRIVATE PILOTS CERTIFICATE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS ORIGINATED AT HEMET RYAN AIRPORT, HEMET CALIFORNIA AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 AND VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE GLIDER AND THE TOW AIRCRAFT DEPARTED HEMET RYAN AIRPORT AND THE TOW AIRCRAFT RELEASED THE GLIDER AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 FEET AGL. THE GLIDER DESTINATION WAS THE MOUNT SAN JACINTO AREA WHERE HIS GOAL WAS TO TRY AND CATCH AS MANY THERMAL UPDRAFTS AS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REACH THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRAVELED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DIFFERENT RIDGELINES AND SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WHERE UPDRAFTS ARE KNOWN TO BE LOCATED. HE STATED THAT HE HAD WORKED HIS WAY UP TO APPROXIMATELY 6100 FOOT MSL BUT WAS NOT HAVING MUCH SUCCESS AT FINDING A GOOD ENOUGH UPDRAFT TO GET HIM UP ABOVE THE 7000 FOOT MSL. HE STATED THAT WHILE IN THE FULLER MILL CREEK AREA AT AROUND 6000 FOOT MSL, WHILE TRYING TO CATCH A THERMAL UPDRAFT, HE RAN INTO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS RATHER STRONG GUSTY WINDS. HE NOTICED THAT HIS AIRSPEED HAD DROPPED TO 40 KNOTS, WHICH WAS BELOW THE MINIMUM OF 55 TO 60 KNOTS THAT HE SAID HE TRIES TO MAINTAIN. AT THIS MOMENT HE CHANGED HIS FLAP POSITION AND LOWERED THE NOSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO QUICKLY GAIN BACK THE AIRSPEED HE HAD LOST. HE STATED HE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THE RIDGELINE HE WAS FOLLOWING DROPPED OFF WHEN IN FACT IT CONTINUED TO RISE. HE SAID JUST MOMENTS AFTER LOWERING THE NOSE HE NOTICED A DEAD TREETOP DIRECTLY IN HIS PATH. HE SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE TREETOP BY BANKING LEFT WING TIP DOWN BUT DURING THIS MANEUVER HE SAID ONE OF HIS WINGS CONTACTED SOMETHING. MOMENTS AFTER INITIAL CONTACT THE GLIDER IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN AN INVERTED POSITION. HE STATED THAT HE HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF WHAT TRANSPIRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT. BOTH WINGS HAD BEEN BROKEN OFF AT THE FUSELAGE BY TREE TRUNKS AND THE GLIDER CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE COCKPIT CANOPY PARTIALLY OPEN. THE FUSELAGE AND TAIL SECTION THOUGH BADLY DAMAGED WERE STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE RUGGEDNESS OFTHE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IT TOOK HIM MANY HOURS TO FIND A SAFE WAY OUT.

## 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 LAX03CA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA201), Jun 15, 2003: Schleicher ASW-20 (N34LB), Idyllwild, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The combined effects of a loss of thermal lift and a gust induced loss of airspeed at a low above ground altitude, which resulted in a descent to impact with trees. The pilot's failure to maintain an…

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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