# NTSB FTW79DRG33: Schleicher ASW-19, N438AS, Castroville, TX, May 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 24, 1979
- Place: Castroville, TX · CASTROVILLE, TX
- Location: 29.3623° N, 98.8548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Castroville, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3623&lon=-98.8548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 136184
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79DRG33
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79DRG33

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1089  79/5/24    CASTROVILLE,TX      SCHLEICHER ASW-19   CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1423                    N438AS              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 45, 3500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            10 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASTROVILLE,TX              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
           MISCELLANEOUS - ANIMAL(S) ON RUNWAY/TAXIWAY/RAMP
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                     CALM
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- PIC SWITCHED TO ANOTHER FIELD DUE TO COWS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N438AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N438AS-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 19230, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-19
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-19](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-19) (registry code 3801508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790524011329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790524011329A), May 24, 1979: Schler ASW19, Castroville, TX, Substantial damage. Glider pilot entered area of sink and was unable to return to the airport.

## Other investigations on N438AS (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.

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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