Schleicher ASW-20 accident near Middletown, California, September 26, 1992
On September 26, 1992 at about 8:31 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20 (glider), registered N789E, was destroyed in an accident near Middletown, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CONNECT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL DURING ASSEMBLY AND FAILURE TO PERFORM AN ADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT CHECK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS DISTRACTION BY PERFORMING OTHER TASKS DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1992 · about 8:31 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20 · all ASW-20s on the register
- Registration
- N789E · registry record · serial 20492
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FAILED TO CONNECT THE ELEVATOR CONTROL MECHANISM DURING ASSEMBLY AND WAS DISTRACTED BY PERFORMING OTHER TASKS. THE PILOT DID NOT PERFORM A POSITIVE FLIGHT CONTROL CHECK PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD NO ELEVATOR CONTROL, LOST AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND.
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
- Flight time: 241 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 917 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 1992
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CA20 Middletown CA at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: 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.