Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Hempstead, Texas, July 24, 1982
On July 24, 1982 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider), registered N13JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hempstead, Texas (Hempstead 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
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
- July 24, 1982 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hempstead, Texas · Hempstead · 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
- N13JR · no longer on the register · serial 20114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE GLIDER WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE SITE. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, HE OBVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE PITCH CONTROL. HE RELEASED THE TOW ROPE AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL AND ABORTED. THE GLIDER LANDED HARD ON THE FUSELAGE, FORWARD OF THE LANDING GEAR. IT THEN BOUNCED AND SUBSEQUENTLY VEERED INTO A FENCE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS HAD INADVERTENTLY BEEN LEFT DISCONNECTED.
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: 3,283 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3,176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 243 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35R Hempstead TX at 1:30 pm
- Destination: 35R Hempstead TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 203°F (95°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N13JR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.