Schreder RS-15 accident near Hempstead, Texas, March 8, 1982
On March 8, 1982 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schreder RS-15 (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N37978, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hempstead, Texas (Hempstead 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1982 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hempstead, Texas · Hempstead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schreder RS-15, amateur-built
- Registration
- N37978 · no longer on the register · serial 22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON HIS FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS HIGH PERFORMANCE GLIDER. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT WING BEGAN TO DRAG WHEN THE RUNNER RELEASED IT EARLY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT THE WING WITH LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER. THE GLIDER LIFTED OFF WHILE IT WAS AT AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 DEGREES FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PULLED THE RELEASE WHILE THE RIGHT WING WAS ABOUT 3 TO 5 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. SHORTLY AFTER RELEASING, THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER SPUN AROUND. THE PILOT THOUGHT HE MAY HAVE PULLED BACK ON THE STICK WHILE APPLYING LEFT AILERON AND RUDDER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 105 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 82 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35R Hempstead TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 35R Hempstead TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm
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.