Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 and Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Tehachapi, California, August 8, 2026
On August 8, 2026 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 (N9172T) and Schleicher ASK-21 (N361KS), were involved in the same accident near Tehachapi, California (Mountain Valley Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 8, 2026 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Mountain Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3, built 2019
- Registration
- N9172T · registry record · serial 03-032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schleicher ASK-21, built 1984 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N361KS · registry record · serial 21224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record for the Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from KTSP, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTSP 081955Z AUTO 32012G17KT 9SM CLR 35/04 A3013 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schleicher ASK-21 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
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.
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 WPR26LA299.