Schempp Hirth Flugzeugbau ARCUS M N16DN

Summary

On 21 June 2018 at about 21:27 local time, a Schempp Hirth Flugzeugbau ARCUS M registered N16DN was involved in an accident near Richfield, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 2018 at 21:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Richfield, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Nephi Muni (U14)

Coordinates

38.6972, -111.9697

Aircraft

Schempp Hirth Flugzeugbau ARCUS M

Registration

N16DN

Category

Glider

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nephi → Nephi

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA177

2 people had minor injuries.

An inflight loss of control and subsequent inflight breakup for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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 he was circling in thermal lift, approaching an altitude of 17,000 feet mean sea level, when one of the rudder pedals "slammed back" and threw his foot off the pedal, accompanied by a "thud" sound. The pilot reported that there was no change in the glider's yaw, pitch, or bank angle, but that he was unable to move the rudder pedals. Shortly thereafter, the glider's bank angle and speed began to increase, and the pilot applied corrective actions; however, he was unable to recover. The pilot instructed the passenger to bail out, and as he jettisoned the canopy, the glider began to break up. The pilot and passenger egressed and landed under parachute, incurring minor injuries. Postaccident examination of the recovered wreckage, including the flight control system, revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunction or anomalies. Based on the available information, the reason for the inflight loss of control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.