Schleicher ASW-24 accident near Erwin, North Carolina, August 15, 2010
On August 15, 2010 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-24 (glider), registered N940CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Erwin, North Carolina (Harnett County Regional Jetpor 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 pilot's excessive use of spoiler on final approach, which resulted in a landing short of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2010 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Erwin, North Carolina · Harnett County Regional Jetpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-24 · all ASW-24s on the register
- Registration
- N940CB · registry record · serial 24069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after a local flight in a glider, he returned to the airport for landing. During his approach to the grassy area adjacent to the runway, the pilot used an excessive amount of spoiler to descend and landed short of the runway. The glider's right wing struck a taxiway sign and light, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the glider, and the wind was calm at the time of the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 577 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 554 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 7, 2009
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,312 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2010
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: HRJ Erwin NC at 7:00 pm
- Destination: HRJ Erwin NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from HRJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.