Schleicher ASW-20L accident near Mt Holley Sprgs, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1987
On May 29, 1987 at about 7:04 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20L (glider), registered N705X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt Holley Sprgs, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 29, 1987 · about 7:04 pm local time
- Place
- Mt Holley Sprgs, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20L · all ASW-20Ls on the register
- Registration
- N705X · registry record · serial 20464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, DURING AN OFF-ARPT LANDING, THE PLT TRIED TO EXTEND THE FLAPS FROM A 30 DEG POSITION TO FULL DOWN (55 DEG). HE SAID THAT DUE TO HIS SHORT STATURE & SEAT POSITION, HE HAD DIFFICULTY POSITIONING HIS LEFT ARM TO DO THIS. AS HE TRIED TO APPLY FULL FLAPS, THEY INADVERTENTLY RETRACTED TO A NEGATIVE 11 DEG POSITION. THE GLIDER THEN PITCHED DOWN FROM ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT AGL & WAS DAMAGED.
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: 454 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 178 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 7, 1986; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W73 Fairfield PA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: W54 Westminister MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from CXY, 17 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.