Alexander Schleicher ASW-24 accident near Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1991
On May 26, 1991 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Alexander Schleicher ASW-24 (glider), registered N24SN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaver Springs, 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 PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT AS THE RESULT OF A STRONG DOWNDRAFT AND WIND SHIFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1991 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alexander Schleicher ASW-24
- Registration
- N24SN · registry record · serial 24029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT WAS COMPETING IN A SOARING COMPETITION AND WAS DESCENDING ALONG A RIDGE DURING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE 'ENCOUNTERED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT AND WIND SHIFT TO THE TAIL COMPONENT WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE AND A SUBSEQUENT DESCENT INTO 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVL Reedsville PA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.