Alamogordo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310
Saturday, August 25, 1990 15:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES REPORTED THE PRIVATE GLIDER PILOT OVER CONTROLLED THE GLIDER AT LIFTOFF DURING AN AIRCRAFT TOW. THE GLIDER ENTERED PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS, STRUCK THE RUNWAY, BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY TWICE MORE, ENDING IN A REPORTED 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN IMPACT WITH THE RUNWAY. THE IMPACT BROKE THE TAIL BOOM, SEPARATED THE RUDDER, ELEVATORS, AND CRUSHED THE COCKPIT. THE WITNESSES EXTRACTED THE PILOT AND AN AMBULANCE TOOK THE SERIOUSLY INJURED PILOT TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GLIDER, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/1990
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City ALAMOGORDO
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88310
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ALAMOGORDO
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ALM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 4220
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1321
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 25 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1837
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42633
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N777XR
NTSB Number DEN90LA175
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASW-19
Aircraft Series Identifier ASW-19
Aircraft Serial Number 19069
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARTHUR B. DAVIS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 2041
Operator City ALAMOGORDO
Operator State NM
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 88310
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code ALM
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 7800
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --