# NTSB FTW80FA091: Schleicher ASW-20, N56MW, Hobbs, NM, July 15, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1980
- Place: Hobbs, NM · HOBBS, NM
- Location: 32.7305° N, 103.1614° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hobbs, NM, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7305&lon=-103.1614&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 17, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129399
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FA091
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FA091

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1810  80/7/15    HOBBS,NM            SCHLEICHER ASW-20   CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 2291
        TIME - 1315                    N56MW               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 110 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HOBBS,NM                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH TEMPERATURE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      97
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          100                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AFT RELEASE FM TOW ACFT LOWERED NOSE TILL NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE.RET N/WHEEL,CLOSED CANOPY,97DEG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N56MW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-20
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19800715026279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800715026279A), Jul 15, 1980: Amtrsc SCHLEICHERK8, Hobbs, NM, Destroyed. Sailplane entered steep spiral dive. No recovery. Possible heat prostation problem.

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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