# Accident 20120825018589A: Schleicher ASW-19, North Dansville, NY, August 25, 2012 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 25, 2012, 15:30 local time - Place: North Dansville, NY - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.5783° N, 77.7225° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5783&lon=-77.7225&mi=10 - Aircraft: N438AS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N438AS-2018-01-04) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Schleicher ASW-19 (registry code 3801508, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-19 - Reported engine: NONE NONE - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 1,847 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA528) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120825018589A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON 8/25/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 LOCAL TIME N438AS (ASW-19B) CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 0.5 MILES NORTH OF THE DANSVILLE, NY AIRPORT (KDSV). INITIALLY THERE WAS CONFUSION BETWEEN THE FAA AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS A HANG GLIDER ACCIDENT OR A GLIDER ACCIDENT. IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER ADDITIONAL REPORTS CAME IN TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THE FAA THAT IT WAS IN FACT A GLIDER.AFTER OBTAINING STATEMENTS FROM WITNESSES OF THE ACCIDENT AND FRIENDS OF THE PILOT INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT THE FOLLOWING TOOK PLACE: THE PILOT WAS TOWED INTO THE AIR AROUND 1230 LOCAL TIME IN N438AS. THE TAKEOFF WAS OBSERVED, SPECIFICALLY BY TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PROVIDED STATEMENTS SURROUNDING THIS ACCIDENT, AND NOTED AS AN UNREMARKABLE TAKEOFF. THIS OBSERVATION WAS FROM THE SOUTH EAST SIDE OF KDSV. THE PILOT STAYED IN THE AIR, SOARING FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS. AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 LOCAL TIME THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED (FROM THE AIRPORT) APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE NORTH OF KDSV IN A RIGHT 90 DEGREE BANK HEADING WEST AT JUST ABOVE TREETOP LEVEL ON THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 14. A SPLIT SECOND LATER THE GLIDER ROLLED OUT HEADING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION, AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT. THE GLIDER THE DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE-LINE, THEN A DUST CLOUD WAS OBSERVED.ANOTHER REPORT WAS MADE BY A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED N438AS "DOING CIRCLES UP IN THE AIR" THE WITNESS ALSO OBSERVED THE GLIDER "SWOOPING" FROM A HIGHER ALTITUDE DESCENDING DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND THEN CLIMBING BACK UP TWICE BEFORE "CIRCLING." THIS OBSERVATION WAS MADE FROM OUTSIDE A BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE CRASH SITE (JUST NORTH OF KDSV). THE WITNESS STATED AFTER SEEING THE GLIDER DO CIRCLES IN THE AIR, THE GLIDER STARTED TIPPING BACK AND FORTH FROM ONE WING TO ANOTHER, AFTER ABOUT 3 OR 4 SIDE TO SIDE TIPS, THE GLIDER STARTED FALLING TOWARDS THE GROUND AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE WITNESS STATED THE GLIDER HIT THE GROUND NOSE FIRST THEN THE GLIDER FELL OVER TO THE SIDE A LITTLE ON ITS WING AND THEN FINALLY CAME TO REST ON THE BELLY.AFTER EXAMINING THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND WRECKAGE, THE DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER AND GROUND SCARING ARE CONSISTENT WITH AN AIRCRAFT STALLING/SPINNING PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT.AFTER EXAMINING THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND WRECKAGE, IT WAS NOTED THAT A BOLT THAT HELD A BATTERY IN PLACE (THAT POWERED THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED IN THE GLIDER) WHICH WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE PILOTS' HEAD, HAD SHEARED ALLOWING THE BATTERY TO MOVE. THE BATTERY IMPACTED THE BACK OF THE PILOTS HEAD CAUSING TRAUMA. ## 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 ERA12LA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA528), Aug 25, 2012: Schleicher ASW-19 (N438AS), Dansville, NY, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain glider control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to an over-the-counter sedating antihistamine. ## Other reports on N438AS (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19790524011329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790524011329A), May 24, 1979: Schler ASW19 (N438AS), Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. Glider pilot entered area of sink and was unable to return to the airport. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.