# NTSB NYC87LA163: Schweizer ASW-20, N98TX, Middletown, NY, June 7, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1987, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Middletown, NY
- Coordinates: 41.440689, -74.419845 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4407&lon=-74.4198&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 April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30662
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30662/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA163

## 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)
  - checklist - not used, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE GLIDER PILOT FAILED TO HOOK UP THE ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE BEFORE LAUNCH AND DURING TAKEOFF THERE WAS NO PITCH CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED UP UNCONTROLLABLY OVERSTRESSING THE ROPE. THE ROPE BROKE AND THE GLIDER IMPACTED HARD ON A ROAD BOUNCING 150 FEET INTO A PLOWED FIELD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98TX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98TX-1989-07-25), registration cancelled 1989-07-25, S/N 20062 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER ASW-20
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASW-20](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-asw-20) (registry code 3801506) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 20062
- Airframe hours: 289
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Leopold Schoenauer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1987

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; flight hours: 1,196 total, 24 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- 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 19870607082499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870607082499A), Jun 7, 1987: Schler ASW20, Middletown, NY, Destroyed. Failed to hook up elevators prior to takeoff. Glider pitched up on the tow,hit ground bounced up 150FT and crashed

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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