Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 N4427M
24 June 2001 · Montague, California, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 June 2001 at about 00:17 local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 registered N4427M was involved in an accident near Montague, California, United States. One person was on board and one was 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 00:17
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Montague, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Siskiyou County (SIY)
- Coordinates
- 41.7814, -122.4681
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5
- Registration
- N4427M
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Air Race/Show
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Montague → Montague
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX01LA220
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A loss of control during landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind condition.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was competing in an open class national soaring contest, and strong surface wind conditions were present. Locally, the wind speed was at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots. At the conclusion of his flight, the pilot turned onto the final approach leg with extra airspeed. When the glider had descended between 5 and 10 feet above the ground, a wind gust lifted its right wing upward, and the left wing contacted the ground. The pilot lost control, and the glider cartwheeled and nosed over.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 2001 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 4DM | Minden, Nevada, United States | William S. Ivans | Fatal | 2 |
| 17 Jun 1997 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 | MacDoel, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2007 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 May 2008 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-4M | Ephrata, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 1993 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II | Buena Vista, Colorado, United States | Kile, R. L. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2001 | Hughes 269C | Tracy, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Cessna R172K | Mammoth Lakes, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Piper PA-46-350P | Stockton, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2001 | Jones RV-6A | Inyokern, California, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 2 May 2001 | Cessna 177B | Santa Maria, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 2001 | Cessna 140 | San Jose, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |