Schleicher ASW-19 accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire, April 25, 1982
On April 25, 1982 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-19 (glider), registered N79RC, was destroyed in an accident near Moultonboro, New Hampshire (Moultonboro Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- April 25, 1982 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Moultonboro, New Hampshire · Moultonboro Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-19 · all ASW-19s on the register
- Registration
- N79RC · registry record · serial 19141
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THE GLIDER CIRCLE OVER THE AIRPORT BEFORE IT CRASHED. ONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER WAS ABOUT 50 TO 100 FT HIGH AND WAS COMING IN NORMALLY WHEN IT SUDDENLY NOSE-DIVED AND HEADED ALMOST VERTICALLY TOWARD THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND DID NOT RECALL ANYTHING PERTAINING TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 400 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 253 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Plymouth NH
- Destination: Plymouth NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 174°F (79°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.