Schleicher ASW-19 accident near Warner Springs, California, June 28, 1986
On June 28, 1986 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-19 (glider), registered N5LR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner Springs, California (Warner Springs 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
- June 28, 1986 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · Warner Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-19 · all ASW-19s on the register
- Registration
- N5LR · no longer on the register · serial 19194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT BECAME AWARE OF THE LOSS OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL AS THE GLIDER BEGAN IT'S INITIAL CLIMB DURING AN AERIAL TOW. HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW AIRCRAFT AND MADE AN OFF ARPT FORCED LANDING IN TALL GRASS. THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE GRASS AND THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED. THE PLT REPORTED HE HAD FAILED TO CONNECT THE ELEVATOR CONTROLS WHILE ASSEMBLING THE GLIDER FOR THIS FLT.
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: 930 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 594 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL35 Warner Springs CA at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from SEE, 32 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.