# Accident 20050703015259A: Schler ASW20, Bishop, CA, July 3, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 2005, 15:15 local time
- Place: Bishop, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9689° N, 118.4061° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9689&lon=-118.4061&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31AP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31AP-2017-07-18) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 500 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX05LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA224) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050703015259A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 3, 2005, ABOUT 1530 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHLIECHER ASW-20 GLIDER, N31AP, COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE INYO NATIONAL PARK, ABOUT 15 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF BIG PINE CALIFORNIA, AT 11,600 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL). THE PRIVATE PILOT, ALSO THE OWNER OF THE GLIDER, WAS OPERATING IT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES; THE GLIDER WAS DESTROYED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE GLIDER DEPARTED FROM CALIFORNIA CITY, CALIFORNIA ABOUT 1245, IN A FLIGHT OF SIX GLIDERS, AND THE PILOT PLANNED TO RETURN THAT EVENING. WHEN THE GLIDER PILOT DIDN'T RETURN TO CALIFORNIA CITY, A SEARCH EFFORT WAS INITIATED BY THE GLIDER PILOT GROUP THAT HAD RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA CITY. AFTER INITIAL SEARCHES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, THE INYO COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS NOTIFIED. ON JULY 4, 2005, AT 1115 PST THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN BY THE INYO COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL. THIS GLIDER IS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY USED FOR EXHIBITION AND RACING.

## 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 LAX05LA224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA224), Jul 3, 2005: Schleicher ASW-20 (N31AP), Big Pine, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate terrain clearance altitude and his decision to turn toward higher terrain.

## Other reports on N31AP (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20030316004739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030316004739A), Mar 16, 2003: Schler ASW20 (N31AP), San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot experienced an aborted takeoff during a "winch" launch. Pilot stated that he winch was not operating properly which forced him to make an early…
- [Accident 19910406023219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910406023219A), Apr 6, 1991: Schler ASW20 (N31AP), Julian, CA, Substantial damage. On glider tow wind blew glider to edge of runway. Wing caught bushes. Tow rope broke. Glider towplane left runway.

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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