Schleicher ASW-20 and Schleicher ASW-20 mid-air collision near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1988
On April 9, 1988 at about 6:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schleicher ASW-20 (N34JH) and Schleicher ASW-20 (N311DP), were involved in a mid-air collision near Fairfield, Pennsylvania. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N34JH TO SEE AND AVOID N311DP.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N34JH TO SEE AND AVOID N311DP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1988 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schleicher ASW-20 · all ASW-20s on the register
- Registration
- N34JH · registry record · serial 20354
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schleicher ASW-20 · all ASW-20s on the register
- Registration
- N311DP · registry record · serial 20831
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schleicher ASW-20 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF N311DP STATED HE SAW N34JH COMING TOWARD HIS GLIDER, SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET HIGHER AND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. HE WATCHED THE GLIDER PASS BY AT AN ALT OF 3,000 FT. APRX 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE AFTER HE SAW N34JH PASS BY, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND HIS GLIDER PITCHED UP. HIS SPOILERS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS HIS LANDING GEAR. HE RETRACTED HIS SPOILERS AND LANDING GEAR AND LANDED THE GLIDER UNEVENTFULLY. THE GLIDER, N34JH, WAS SEEN BY A WITNESS SPIRALING TO 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 NTSB's narrative for the Schleicher ASW-20 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N311DP STATED HE SAW N34JH COMING TOWARD HIS GLIDER, SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET HIGHER AND SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. HE WATCHED THE GLIDER PASS BY AND WAS LEVEL AT 3000 FEET MSL AND INDICATING 60 KNOTS. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS TO 1 MINUTE AFTER HE SAW N34JH NPAS BY, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND HIS GLIDER PITCHED UP. HIS SPOILERS DEPLOYED AS WELL AS HIS LANDING GEAR. HE RETRACTED HIS SPOILERS AND LANDING GEAR AND LANDED THE GLIDER UNEVENTFULLY. THE GLIDER N34JH WAS SEEN BY A WITNESS SPIRALING TO 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 for the Schleicher ASW-20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 731 hours in all; 731 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 701 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 415 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fairfield PA at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 345° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schleicher ASW-20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 667 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 633 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 203 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1987; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fairfield PA at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.