Schleicher ASW 20 accident near Calistoga, California, January 9, 1982
On January 9, 1982 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW 20 (glider), registered N10UP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calistoga, California (Calistoga 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
- January 9, 1982 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Calistoga, California · Calistoga · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW 20 · all ASW 20s on the register
- Registration
- N10UP · registry record · serial 20104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE PILOT RETRACTED THE GEAR WHEN HE INTENDED TO ACTUATE THE SPOILERS. HE LANDED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED AND SLID INTO A FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE GEAR HANDLE IS IN THE DOWN POSITION, IT IS NEXT TO AND ABOUT ONE INCH BELOW THE SPOILER HANDLE. HE ALSO NOTED THAT IN MOST GLIDERS, THE GEAR HANDLE IS LOCATED COMPLETELY CLEAR OF THE SPOILER HANDLE AND/OR IT IS OF A DIFFERENT SHAPE.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,238 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 190 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Calistoga CA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Calistoga CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.