Schleicher K7 accident near Mayville, New York, August 27, 2022
On August 27, 2022 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1962 Schleicher K7 (glider), registered N107AS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Mayville, New York (Dart Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2022 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mayville, New York · Dart Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher K7, built 1962
- Registration
- N107AS · no longer on the register · serial 7038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the return flight to the airport, the glider encountered more downdrafts than he expected, and that the glider did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport. During the subsequent forced landing into trees and shrubby, the glider’s fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of lift during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Thermal lifting › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Last flight review: September 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,068 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None (none); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D79 Mayville NY at 5:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:56 pm from JHW, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KJHW 271656Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/13 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP206 T02060133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 6, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.