Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Ionia, Michigan, August 14, 1994
On August 14, 1994 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider), registered N6514M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ionia, Michigan (Ionia County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
no thermal lift available, and the lack of suitable terrain for landing. A factor related to the accident was the high wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1994 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ionia, Michigan · Ionia County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20 · all ASW-20s on the register
- Registration
- N6514M · registry record · serial 20801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A SOARING CONTEST. HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRPLANE AT 1900 FEET AGL, SEVEN MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. HE REPORTED HE IMMEDIATELY ENCOUNTERED HIGH WIND CONDITIONS AND A SINK RATE. HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE MADE AN INTENTIONAL LANDING IN SOME BUSHY TREES AND SCRUB BRUSH ONE MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,390 hours in all; 561 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 5,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,001 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y70 at 6:20 pm
- Destination: MOP Mount Pleasant MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from GRR, 20 miles away
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.