Schleicher ASW-19B N19KW

Summary

On 16 April 2022 at about 17:15 local time, a Schleicher ASW-19B registered N19KW was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 April 2022 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Herlong Rec Airport (HEG)

Coordinates

30.2778, -81.8059

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW-19B

Registration

N19KW

Category

Glider

Year built

1984

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22FA189

1 person died.

The pilot’s improper preflight assembly of the glider’s elevator control, which resulted in a loss of control on takeoff, and the pilot’s failure to complete a positive control check before the flight, which would have identified the disconnected elevator control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after the tow airplane and the glider became airborne, the pilot of the glider released from the tow plane about 200 ft above ground level, then entered a left turn back toward the runway, during which the glider impacted terrain. Witnesses to the accident described the glider’s takeoff as “abnormal” and “erratic” and reported that the glider climbed above the tow plane twice before the glider pilot released from tow. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed that the elevator control was not connected as required by preflight assembly procedures, which would have resulted in the pilot’s inability to control the glider’s pitch attitude. According to the tow pilot, the glider pilot had assembled the glider by himself (as he had done many times before) on the morning of the accident. It is likely that, had the pilot completed a positive control check after assembly, he would have identified the disconnected elevator control. Toxicology testing identified two sedating drugs, cetirizine (Zyrtec) and trazodone (an antidepressant), in the pilot’s cavity blood and urine; however, the pilot’s use of these medications most likely did not contribute to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.