Schleicher ASW-20BL accident near Minden, Nevada, August 15, 1989
On August 15, 1989 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20BL (glider), registered N300Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minden, Nevada (Minden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MISUNDERSTOOD EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT OF THE GLIDER AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE INADEQUATE BEFORE AND DURING THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 1989 · about 9:05 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20BL · all ASW-20BLs on the register
- Registration
- N300Y · registry record · serial 20658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, WHILE STILL IN TOW, THE TOW PLT TRANSMITTED TO THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER PLT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRANSMISSION AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER NOTED THAT THE TOW PLANES RUDDER WAS WAGGING. THE GLIDER PLT THOUGHT THAT THE TOW PLT WANTED HIM TO RELEASE. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED FROM THE TOW AT APRX 100' AGL WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. LATER, THE GLIDER PLT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE REASON FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RUDDER WAG WAS THAT HE WAS BEING NOTIFIED THAT THE SPOILERS HAD DEPLOYED. THE PLT DID NOT CHECK DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION IF THE SPOILERS HAD BEEN LOCKED.
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: 970 hours in all; 510 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 915 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,289 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N300Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N300Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schleicher ASW-20 101 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schleicher 506 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Minden-Tahoe Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,591 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N300Y 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA89LA150.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.