# NTSB LAX00LA232: Schleicher AS20, N59WM, Coleville, CA, June 17, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 2000, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Coleville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.470829, -119.480758 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4708&lon=-119.4808&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA232
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA232

## Probable cause

the tow plane pilot's inadequate airplane performance calculations.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - open field
  - object - fence

## Analysis

The commercial glider pilot reported that after departing Truckee-Tahoe airport by tow, he lost lift and decided to make a precautionary landing in a field.  Upon learning that there was a soaring club located nearby, he made contact with the club and requested an airplane tow out of the field.  During the tow operation the tow plane collided with a fence.  The sailplane released, overflew the tow plane by 2 to 4 feet, traveled across a road, and collided with another fence.

## Factual narrative

On June 17, 2000, about 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schleicher AS20, N59WM, collided with a fence on an aero tow takeoff from a dirt field near Coleville, California.  The sailplane, owned and operated by the commercial pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage.  The commercial glider pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed.  The cross-country recreational flight originated from Truckee-Tahoe, California, airport at 1230.

After the tow takeoff from Truckee-Tahoe airport, the pilot reported that he lost lift and decided to make a precautionary landing in a field.  Upon learning that there was a soaring club located nearby, he made contact with the club and requested an airplane tow out of the field.  During the takeoff the tow plane collided with a fence.  The sailplane released, overflew the tow plane by 2 to 4 feet, traveled across a road, and collided with another fence.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59WM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Schleicher AS20
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 20274
- Airframe hours: 1024
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James Darke
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2000, 27 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; flight instructor, commercial; seat: center; flight hours: 1,591 total, 1,520 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 0 ft
- Temperature: 167 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 30 nm away

## 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 20000617012129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000617012129A), Jun 17, 2000: Schler ASW20, Coleville, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 17, 200 at 1605 PDT, [privacy data omitted] was on tow in schleicher ASW-20, N59WM. The towplane shortly after takeoff hit a fence and the…

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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