Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS N104TH

Summary

On 11 July 2018 at about 01:32 local time, a Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS registered N104TH, operated by Sparrowhawk21 LLC., was involved in an accident near Goldfield, Nevada, 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.

Date

11 July 2018 at 01:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Goldfield, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

37.6439, -117.3650

Aircraft

Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS

Registration

N104TH

Category

Glider

Year built

2001

Operator

Sparrowhawk21 LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tonopah → Tonopah

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18TA192

1 person was seriously injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, during the personal glider flight, the weather conditions deteriorated, so he chose to land the glider at an alternate airport. While attempting to reach the alternate airport, the glider encountered continuous sinking air. When he realized the glider would not reach the alternate airport, the pilot chose to land on a nearby road. Just before touchdown, the right wing impacted a berm that paralleled the road, and the glider subsequently cartwheeled and then came to rest inverted.   The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The glider encountered atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.