Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Prescott Valley, AZ
On April 11, 2015, a Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (glider) was involved in an accident near Prescott Valley, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 11, 2015
- Place
- Prescott Valley, AZ
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.681°N, 112.297°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150411X00323
Official records · WPR15FA144
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 11, 2015, about 1525 mountain standard time, a Schempp-Hirth, Standard Cirrus glider, sustained substantial damage after impact with terrain following a winch-tow-launch and initial climb at the A.C. Goodwin Memorial Field Gliderport (AZ86), Prescott Valley, Arizona. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the glider, sustained fatal injuries. The glider was registered to and operated by the Prescott Soaring Society, Prescott, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The proposed local flight, which was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, was originating at the time of the accident. Several witnesses to the accident provided written statements to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge. One witness, who was also a pilot with the glider club, reported that the accident aircraft had been flown twice earlier in the day. The witness stated that prior to the accident pilot departing, he advised him of the difficulties in flying the Standard Cirrus, in that it had a "touchy elevator", and that things seemed to happen fast in a fiberglass glider. The witness further stated that the pilot launched using the winch launch in the normal fashion, and had called ahead and requested a speed of 65, which he called out/verbalized. The witness opined that while watching the launch, it appeared the glider was going slower with an increase in angle of attack; a few seconds later he reported hearing a call [on the radio] of "mo
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb after a ground-tow launch, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
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Browse: Arizona · Schempp-Hirth aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
