Schreder HP-18 accident near New River, Arizona, November 5, 1983
On November 5, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schreder HP-18 (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N17DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near New River, Arizona (Pleasant Valley 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
- November 5, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- New River, Arizona · Pleasant Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schreder HP-18, amateur-built
- Registration
- N17DW · registry record · serial 35
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE HOME BUILT, SINGLE PLACE, GLIDER & WAS ON HIS 1ST TOW. HE REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE GLIDER BECAME AIRBORNE PRIOR TO THE TOW PLANE, HE FELT A SLIGHT TUG AT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL, HAD CLIMBED TOO HIGH BEHIND THE TOW PLANE, THEN OVERCORRECTED IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RWY, BOUNCED & WENT BACK IN THE AIR. THE PLT NOTICED THAT THE CANOPY HAD LOOSENED AT ITS FRONT LOCKING POINT. AT APRX 50 FT AGL, HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE & LANDED IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING HIT A BUSH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER WAS DAMAGED. EARLIER THAT DAY, THE PREVIOUS OWNER & ANOTHER PLT HAD FLOWN THE GLIDER WITH NO PROBLEMS.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 216 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 30, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 890 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.