# NTSB LAX90DUQ03: Schleicher ASW-12, N6135, California City, CA, September 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 22, 1990, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 34.689922, -117.899101 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6899&lon=-117.8991&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 December 14, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90DUQ03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26555/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DUQ03

## Probable cause

AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A DISCONNECTED ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE AND AN IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE GLIDER PILOT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight control,elevator - disconnected (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE GLIDER WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH NOSE UP ABOUT 40 TO 50 DEGREES SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF AND CLIMB AT THIS ANGLE TO ABOUT 200 FEET AGL. THE TOW ROPE WAS RELEASED AND THE GLIDER TURNED RIGHT AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS WERE NOT CONNECTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6135](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6135-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 12009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-12
- Registry model: [Schleicher AS-W12](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-as-w12) (registry code 38015HR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 12009
- Airframe hours: 744
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Frederik Daams
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1990, 4 hours before
- Departed: L71
- Airport: L71, California City Muni, runway 6, 2,000 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; flight hours: 134 total, 2 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 15 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19900922041649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900922041649A), Sep 22, 1990: Schler ASW12, California City, CA, Destroyed. Glider pitched up on takeoff was safely released and dived into ground. Pilot had neglected to hook up elevators.

## Other investigations on N6135 (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 FTW84LA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA339), Aug 4, 1984: Schleicher ASW12 (N6135), Georgetown, TX, destroyed

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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