Schleicher ASW20C N18MA
7 November 2020 · Clayton, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 November 2020 at about 20:51 local time, a Schleicher ASW20C registered N18MA was involved in an accident near Clayton, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:51
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clayton, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 37.8400, -121.8748
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW20C
- Registration
- N18MA
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1986
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Byron → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR21LA040
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots of each glider to see an avoid one another while maneuvering, which resulted in a mid-air collision.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of an ASW-20C glider reported that, while following lift under cumulus clouds, he observed another glider, an ASW-27 traversing from right to left. He entered into a steep dive in an attempt to avoid the other glider, however, the ASW-20C impacted the ASW-27 glider. Following the collision, the ASW-20C entered a steep descent and rolled inverted before the pilot elected to bail out and parachute to safety. The ASW-20C pilot added that the glider was equipped with a FLARM collision system, and prior to the collision, did not receive any alerts of additional traffic. The pilot of an ASW-27 glider reported that while maneuvering, another glider suddenly appeared to his left and followed by a collision. The pilot stated that his glider immediately entered a descent and was out of control. The pilot of the ASW-27 subsequently bailed out and parachuted to safety. The glider was equipped with a FLARM collision system but was inoperative awaiting an annual software update. The ASW-20C glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The ASW-27 glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aft fuselage. Both glider pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the gliders that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schleicher ASW20C | N18MA | - | Substantial |
| Schleicher ASW27 | N81KP | - | Substantial |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2020 | Cessna 172 | Fresno, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Cessna 208 | Eureka, California, United States | Redding Aero Enterprises Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Arrow-Falcon Exporters UH-1H | Coalinga, California, United States | Guardian Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Oct 2020 | Evolution REVO | Hawthorne, California, United States | Joe K Audette | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Feb 2020 | Beechcraft 36 | Avalon, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 2020 | Boeing 747 412 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Kalitta Air | No injuries | - |