Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 30 MI accident near Santa Barbara, California, June 27, 2025
On June 27, 2025 at about 8:08 pm local time, a 2014 Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 30 MI (glider), registered N307BE, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Santa Barbara, California (Santa Barbara Muni 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain taxiway centerline while taxiing off the runway which resulted in a left-wing strike with a runway direction sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2025 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Barbara, California · Santa Barbara Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 30 MI, built 2014
- Registration
- N307BE · registry record · serial 30007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot reported that he continued the rollout and maneuvered the 87-foot-wide glider onto the taxiway shortly after landing on a 75-foot-wide runway. Subsequently, the left wing struck a runway direction sign and sustained substantial damage. The pilot further reported that he should have stopped the glider completely on the runway and confirmed that he was centerline while maneuvering off the runway. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (from runway)
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Last flight review: May 3, 2024
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 674.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2024; 16.0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Austro IAE-50R-AA (piston); 87 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLPC Lompoc CA at 7:28 pm
- Runway 15L, 4,180 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 pm from KSBA
Weather report (METAR): KSBA 272005Z 16007KT 10SM HZ SCT012 BKN018 20/15 A2995 RMK AO2 T02000150 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 14, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.