Schleicher ASW-19 accident near Bedminster, New Jersey, August 29, 1999
On August 29, 1999 at about 6:28 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-19 (glider), registered N19DQ, was destroyed in an accident near Bedminster, New Jersey (Somerset County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's medical incapacitation after suffering a massive stroke.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1999 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Bedminster, New Jersey · Somerset County Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-19 · all ASW-19s on the register
- Registration
- N19DQ · no longer on the register · serial 19059
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider was observed by witnesses and other aircraft, both in the air and on the airport surface. One witness described the glider's flight as 'wandering' and that the glider did not make use of the available thermal lift. The glider then approached the airport, but was not configured correctly for landing. A doctor who witnessed the accident and responded to the crash site said: 'The glider came over, swerved to the left, swerved to the right, then struck trees. He was about half a mile from where he should have landed. It looked like he lost control.' The glider was destroyed, but the cockpit area was intact. The doctor examined the pilot, who had only minor injuries, and diagnosed a Cerebral Vascular Accident. The pilot was transported to the hospital where he died. According to the State's Medical Examiner, the pilot died as a result of a massive stroke.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMQ at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from SMQ
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number IAD99LA061.