Schempp-Hirth DISCUS 2B N21TH

Summary

On 22 June 2017 at about 20:00 local time, a Schempp-Hirth DISCUS 2B registered N21TH, operated by Bay Area Soaring Associates Inc., was involved in an accident near Bishop, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 June 2017 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bishop, California, United States

Coordinates

37.4364, -118.2611

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth DISCUS 2B

Registration

N21TH

Category

Glider

Year built

2001

Operator

Bay Area Soaring Associates Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bishop → Bishop

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA368

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering over rising mountainous terrain, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the glider reported that, while circling over rising mountainous terrain in search of thermals, he approached a "ridge right in front of me [him]." He added that, at that moment, "the [flight] controls went soft [and] I [he] could see that I [he] was [aerodynamically] stalled and plummeting toward the terrain and trees below." He further added that he "pointed the [glider's] nose down at a steep angle" to gain airspeed, but the glider impacted trees and steep terrain. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.