# NTSB NYC82DA187: Schleicher ASW-20, N20KG, Unionville, PA, August 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1982, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Unionville, PA
- Coordinates: 39.89928, -75.739479 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8993&lon=-75.7395&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 August 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72896
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82DA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72896/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA187

## 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
  - flt control syst,elevator control - disconnected (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE BEING TOWED DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT MOVED THE FLAPS FROM THE NEUTRAL #3 TO THE POSITIVE #4 SETTING AND THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER PITCHED UP. THE PILOT REALIZED THERE WAS NO ELEVATOR CONTROL, THE FLAPS WERE MOVED TO THE #1 (NEGATIVE) SETTING AND THE TWO CABLE WAS RELEASED WHILE THE GLIDER WAS STILL BELOW 100 FT AGL. IT CONTINUED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AND UNDERBRUSH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR PUSH ROD WAS DISCONNECTED FROMTHE ELEVATOR. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT DURING THE PREFLIGHT CHECK, THE PUSH ROD PUSHED THE ELEVATOR UP AND DOWN WHEN THESTICK WAS MOVED FORWARD AND AFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20KG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-20
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 20468
- Airframe hours: 54
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas Knauff/Doris Grove
- Registered owner: Thomas Knauff/Doris Grove
- Departed: 79N, UNIONVILLE, PA
- Destination: 79N, UNIONVILLE, PA
- Airport: 79N, Ridge Soaring Gliderport, runway 23, 3,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 2,932 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,761 as pilot in command, 271 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles

## 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 19820806034979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820806034979A), Aug 6, 1982: Schler ASW20, Unionville, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot neglected to connect elevator control during glider assembly. Crash occurred during takeoff.

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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