Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Williams, California, April 14, 2001
On April 14, 2001 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider), registered N47TR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, California (Williams Glider Port airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to attach the elevator control rod to the elevator, resulting in a loss of pitch control and subsequent ground impact. Additional factors were the failure to complete a positive control check and the lack of clear guidance in the assembly procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2001 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, California · Williams Glider Port · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20 · all ASW-20s on the register
- Registration
- N47TR · no longer on the register · serial 20001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff, the glider began an uncontrolled climb at a 45-degree nose up attitude behind the tow plane. The tow plane pilot was forced to cut the tow rope due to the severe pitch down moment caused by the glider. The glider then arced over into a 45-degree nose down dive and hit the ground. The glider's flight control system was equipped with Hotalier quick disconnect fittings at various locations to facilitate the disassembly of the glider for trailer transport. A postaccident examination of the flight control system disclosed that the elevator control push rod was disconnected from the elevator at a quick disconnect fitting in the vertical stabilizer. There was no damage noted to the elevator bell crank or the terminal end of the elevator control push rod. A close friend and former partner in the glider was interviewed. He was present on the day of the accident and knew the pilot very well. He stated that he and the pilot had purchased the glider a little less than a year prior to the accident. The pilot had flown it over 50 times and had assembled it as many as 25 times. On the day of the accident, he and the pilot completed a control check while qued for the tow plane. He stated that he held the elevator while the pilot applied full up elevator control input. He felt the elevator move in the up position. He said neither the pilot nor he attempted to apply full nose down control input, as it was assumed the elevator was properly attached to the control rod fitting. He stated that in retrospect, the only way to positively check the connection is to hold the elevator in the up position while the pilot applies full nose down control input.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 1,001 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Williams CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Williams CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMYV, 27 miles away
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.