Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Plainfield, Illinois, July 31, 1990
On July 31, 1990 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 (glider), registered N342KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainfield, Illinois (Clow International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE GLIDER PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING AT LOW ATITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1990 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Plainfield, Illinois · Clow International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N342KS · no longer on the register · serial 21253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT STATED THAT HE ALLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO GET OUT OF POSITION BEHIND THE TOW PLANE DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS AFRAID THE TOW LINE WOULD PULL THE TOW PLANE OUT OF CONTROL AT LOW ALTITUDE, SO HE RELEASED AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT FOR A LANDING. THE GLIDER IMPACTED TREES ON THE EDGE OF THE AIRPORT AND CAME TO REST IN A BEAN FIELD.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,316 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Advanced Soaring Klub, LTD.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,370 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from ARR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.