Schleicher ASW-27 accident near Montague, California, July 15, 2026
On July 15, 2026 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1999 Schleicher ASW-27 (glider), registered N920KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Montague, California (Siskiyou County airport). It was a glider-towing 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 inability to see and avoid a piece of loose wire in a field during an off-airport landing in a glider, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to maintain a safe position behind the tow airplane after taking off which required them to release from tow at too low of an altitude to return to the airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2026 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Montague, California · Siskiyou County · 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-27, built 1999 · all ASW-27s on the register
- Registration
- N920KB · registry record · serial 27123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was piloting a glider while being towed by a tow airplane. Shortly after takeoff, and during a turn, the glider lost safe positioning behind the tow airplane and climbed above it due to a possible wind gust. The pilot deemed he would not be able to recover to a safe position and released the tow rope about 300 ft AGL. The pilot determined he could not make a turn back to the airport and elected to conduct an off-airport landing on a nearby field. During the landing a wingtip caught a section of loose wire that was hidden in tall grass in the field, which resulted in a ground loop. The tail boom fractured, resulting in substantial damage to the glider. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies that contributed to the accident.
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
- Glider tow event during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,286 hours in all; 405 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,231 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2026
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,058.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 23, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 1,106 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 74°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KSIY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSIY 151853Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW120 30/06 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP155 T03000061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N920KB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schleicher ASW-27 90 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schleicher 506 aircraft on the register
- Siskiyou County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA263.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.