Centrair SCHLEICHER ASW-20 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, March 18, 1986
On March 18, 1986 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Centrair SCHLEICHER ASW-20 (glider), registered N49946, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Turf 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
- March 18, 1986 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Turf Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Centrair SCHLEICHER ASW-20 SCHLEICHER
- Registration
- N49946 · registry record · serial 20121
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE THE ACFT WAS VEERING OFF THE RWY. AFTER RELEASE FROM THE TOW PLANE THE ACFT WING TIP STRUCK A BUSH CAUSING THE AFCT TO GROUND LOOP. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 200 DEG AT 5 KTS GUSTING TO 10 KTS.
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: 505 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APT Phoenix AZ at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,000 ft by 105 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from SDL, 20 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.