Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A and Schleicher ASW 20 B mid-air collision near Ephrata, Washington, July 12, 1984
On July 12, 1984 at about 9:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A (N17KS) and Schleicher ASW 20 B (N919R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Ephrata, Washington. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 12, 1984 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ephrata, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A · all VENTUS As on the register
- Registration
- N17KS · no longer on the register · serial 6
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schleicher ASW 20 B · all ASW 20 Bs on the register
- Registration
- N919R · registry record · serial 20621
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 'GAGGLE' OF ABOUT 7 GLIDERS WERE MANEUVERING IN A THERMAL WHEN N919R TRIED TO JOIN THE GROUP. THEIR AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT55 KTS AND HIS WAS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 80 KTS. N919R COLLIDED WITH N17KS AND ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN FROM WHICH IT DID NOT RECOVER. N17KS MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT THE ARPT OF DEPARTURE.
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 B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 'GAGGLE' OF ABOUT 7 GLIDERS WERE MANEUVERING IN A CLIMB WHEN N919R CLIMBED INTO THE GROUP. THE PLT OF N17KS SAID HE SAW N919R CLOSING AND INCREASED HIS ANGLE OF BANK TO ABOUT 100 DEGREES TO TRY AND AVOID A COLLISION. THE LEADINGEDGE OF THE LEFT WING OF N919R CONTACTED THE TRAILING EDGE OF N17KS RIGHT WING. N17KS WENT INTO A VERTICAL DIVE BUT RECOVERED AND LANDED AT THE AIRPORT ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. N919R WENT INTO AN INVERTED SPIN AND CRASHED STILL INVERTED. NO PARACHUTE WAS OBSERVED TO DEPLOY.
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 Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 112 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 948 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EPH Ephrata WA at 9:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from EPH, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schleicher ASW 20 B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,158 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EPH Ephrata WA at 9:00 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA84FA172.