Schleicher ASW-15 accident near Plymouth, Connecticut, May 26, 1982
On May 26, 1982 at about 4:03 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-15 (glider), registered N77BZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, Connecticut (Waterbury 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
- May 26, 1982 · about 4:03 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, Connecticut · Waterbury
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-15 · all ASW-15s on the register
- Registration
- N77BZ · no longer on the register · serial 15130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE RUDDER PEDALS CLICK INTO THEIR DETENTED/LOCKED POSITION WHEN THEY WERE ADJUSTED BEFORE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, WHILE BEING TOWED FOR TAKEOFF, THE RUDDER PEDALS SLIPPED FORWARD ABOUT 1 TO 2 INCHES. THE PILOT REACHED DOWN WITH HIS LEFT HAND TO PULL THE RUDDER ADJUST KNOB AND REPOSITION THE RUDDER PEDALS. HOWEVER, HE INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE TOW RELEASE KNOB WHICH WAS LOCATED ABOUT 3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUDDER ADJUST KNOB. THE TOW ROPE WAS RELEASED WHEN HE ABOUT 200 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 15 FT AGL AND 55 KNOTS. SINCE THERE WERE TREES AROUND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE PULLED UP AND TURNED RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN A CLEAR AREA ON ANOTHER PART OF THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE CLEARING AND CRASHED IN THE TREES.
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: 429 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 415 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 306 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N41 Plymouth CT at 12:00 pm
- Destination: N41 Plymouth CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°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.