# NTSB NYC87DGT01: Schleicher ASW-20L, N705X, Mt Holley Sprgs, PA, May 29, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1987, 15:04 local (19:04 UTC)
- Place: Mt Holley Sprgs, PA
- Coordinates: 40.109901, -77.180213 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1099&lon=-77.1802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30438
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87DGT01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30438/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87DGT01

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - lowering of flaps - attempted, pilot in command
  - raising of flaps - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not possible

## Analysis

JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, DURING AN OFF-ARPT LANDING, THE PLT TRIED TO EXTEND THE FLAPS FROM A 30 DEG POSITION TO FULL DOWN (55 DEG). HE SAID THAT DUE TO HIS SHORT STATURE & SEAT POSITION, HE HAD DIFFICULTY POSITIONING HIS LEFT ARM TO DO THIS. AS HE TRIED TO APPLY FULL FLAPS, THEY INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED TO A NEGATIVE 11 DEG POSITION. THE GLIDER THEN PITCHED DOWN FROM ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT AGL & WAS DAMAGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N705X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N705X), registered now, S/N 20464 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-20L
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20L](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20l) (registry code 3801503) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 20464
- Airframe hours: 178
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles F Yahrling
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, September 7, 1986, 7 hours before
- Departed: W73, FAIRFIELD, PA
- Destination: W54, WESTMINISTER, MD

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 454 total, 196 in this make and model, 402 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Observed at: CXY, 17 nm away

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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