Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Vacaville, California, November 6, 1988
On November 6, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 (glider), registered N129KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vacaville, California (Nut Tree airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 6, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · Nut Tree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N129KS · registry record · serial 21275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FINAL APPROACH, THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. A WITNESS STATED THAT, 'THE PILOT SIMPLY LET THE GLIDER GET TOO LOW AND TOO SLOW AND HIT A FENCE.' THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT DID NOT FILE AN ACDT REPORT.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vacaville Aero Services INC.
The flight
- Departed from: O45
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SUU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.