Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Pocahontas, IL
On July 4, 2010, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider) was involved in an accident near Pocahontas, IL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 4, 2010
- Place
- Pocahontas, IL
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.803°N, 89.561°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100706X10407
Official records · CEN10LA368
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 4, 2010, about 1350 central daylight time, an experimental exhibition/air racing Schleicher ASW-20 glider, N82BK, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged upon impact with high vegetation and terrain near Pocahontas, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originated from the Highland-Winet Airport, near Highland, Illinois, about 1300. According to a tow pilot, the glider was towed to an altitude of between 1,300 and 1,800 feet above ground level about 1300. The pilot radioed “thanks for the tow” upon release. Radio communications with the glider was attempted about 1400 and it was not reestablished. Around 1730, three airplanes went to look for the glider and it was found about 2000, in a field of high vegetation. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 62-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a glider rating. Records obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showed that pilot's most recent application for a third-class medical was dated April 2, 2003. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 354 hours of total flight time on that application. The pilot's family provided a copy of excerpts from the pilot's flight logbook. Based on the logbook excerpts, the pilot recorded 659 flights with a total flight time of 865:51 hours. An endorsement showed that the pilot completed a flight review on June 28, 2009. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N82BK, was a Schleicher ASW-20 glider cons
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a wings-level attitude prior to impacting high vegetation and terrain during the off-field landing.
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Browse: Illinois · Schleicher aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
