Distar Cz As D 13/15 SUN DANCER N588V

Summary

On 24 February 2022 at about 21:40 local time, a Distar Cz As D 13/15 SUN DANCER registered N588V was involved in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 February 2022 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Boulder City, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Boulder City Muni (BVU)

Coordinates

35.9296, -114.8842

Aircraft

Distar Cz As D 13/15 SUN DANCER

Registration

N588V

Category

Glider

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22FA109

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while maneuvering, which resulted in a wire strike and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment from alcohol consumption and his use of diphenhydramine before the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed in the motorglider and impacted powerlines and terrain near the airport shortly thereafter. An individual who interacted with the pilot before the accident flight reported that “something was off” and that the pilot “seemed a little woozy.” A witness near the accident site reported seeing a low-flying airplane and stated that the engine sounded normal; however, she did not see the accident. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicological testing of the pilot detected impairing levels of ethanol and diphenhydramine consistent with the pilot having recently consumed alcohol before the flight. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot’s impairment from consuming alcohol contributed to his failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Diphenhydramine is available over-the-counter in many products used to treat colds, allergies, as well as insomnia because of its strong sedating effects. Patients are advised not to use diphenhydramine with ethanol because that increases drowsiness. Diphenhydramine alone would have caused drowsiness and diminished reaction time and performance; in combination with ethanol, these effects would be enhanced. Thus, the effects from the pilot’s use of diphenhydramine contributed to this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.