- Date
- May 28, 1996, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sparks, NV
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N204QSchleicher ASW-20
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960528012069A
- Case key
- 29454
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff roll, and his failure to maintain control of the glider. The gusty wind condition was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said he was in full control of the glider during the ground roll portion of an aero tow, with the wings level as the glider accelerated through an airspeed between 20 and 30 knots. He reported that 'without warning, the right wing was (then) slammed to the ground.' He applied full opposite aileron which had no effect, and the glider became airborne. The pilot then released from the tow plane, but during touchdown, the glider's nose collapsed, the canopy broke, and the left wing was damaged. When the takeoff was initiated, the local wind was between 5 and 10 knots, with gusts to 12 knots. Following the accident, the wind speed was between 2 and 7 knots. The pilot stated that he believed his glider was 'hit by a freak high velocity wind gust.'
Factual narrative
On May 28, 1996, at 1515 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Schleicher ASW-20, N204Q, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with terrain during an aero tow takeoff from the Air Sailing private airstrip, about 20 nautical miles north of Sparks, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The experimental category glider was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, he was in full control of the glider during the ground roll portion of the aero tow. The wings were level as he accelerated through an airspeed between 20 and 30 knots. The pilot reported that "without warning the right wing was (then) slammed to the ground." The pilot further reported that he applied full opposite aileron which had no effect, and the glider then became airborne. The pilot released from the tow plane, and during touchdown the glider's nose collapsed, the canopy broke, and the left wing was damaged.
When the takeoff was initiated, the local wind was between 5 and 10 knots, with gusts to 12 knots. Following the accident, the wind speed was between 2 and 7 knots. The pilot stated that he believes his glider was "hit by a freak high velocity wind gust."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N204Q
- Reported as
- Schleicher ASW-20
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 20262
- Airframe hours
- 658
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ivan K. Mcfadden
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 2, 1996 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- NV23
- Airport
- NV23 · Air Sailing, runway 21, 3,000 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 622 total · 254 in this make and model · 605 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.