# NTSB DEN90LA175: Schleicher ASW-19, N777XR, Alamogordo, NM, August 25, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1990, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Alamogordo, NM
- Coordinates: 32.879833, -105.950088 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8798&lon=-105.9501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA175

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GLIDER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb
  - lift-off - abrupt, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THE PRIVATE GLIDER PILOT OVER CONTROLLED THE GLIDER AT LIFTOFF DURING AN AIRCRAFT TOW. THE GLIDER ENTERED PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS, STRUCK THE RUNWAY, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY TWICE MORE, ENDING IN A REPORTED 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN IMPACT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE IMPACT BROKE THE TAIL BOOM, SEPARATED THE RUDDER, ELEVATORS, AND CRUSHED THE COCKPIT. THE WITNESSES EXTRACTED THE PILOT AND AN AMBULANCE TOOK THE SERIOUSLY INJURED PILOT TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N777XR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-19
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 19069
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arthur B. Davis, doing business as Greg Bouten
- Destination: ALM
- Airport: ALM, Alamogordo, runway 21, 7,800 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; flight hours: 115 total, 22 in this make and model, 57 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900825035999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900825035999A), Aug 25, 1990: Schler ASW19, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. Raised too high on initial tow,came down and propoised until impacting nose first. Pilot overcorrected oscillations

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.

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