Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Aguila, AZ
On June 23, 2018, a Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (glider) was involved in an accident near Aguila, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 23, 2018
- Place
- Aguila, AZ
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.931°N, 113.178°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180623X00040
Official records · WPR18FA178
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2018, about 1408 mountain standard time, a Schempp-Hirth glider, N7880, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Aguila, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses located at Sampley's Airport (28AZ), Aguila, Arizona, the pilot had arrived at the airport earlier in the day. Witnesses stated the pilot flew one 3-minute flight that morning before departing on the accident flight about 1359. The driver of the glider tow vehicle reported the launch was normal, and no anomalies occurred. He observed the glider depart the upwind leg of the traffic pattern and turn right. He noted that the glider was about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) while on the downwind leg. About 3 minutes later, he began to reel in the tow winch, and observed the glider near the approach end of runway 17 traveling west. He further reported that the glider made a right 360° turn with about a 30° bank angle, while at 400 ft agl. the turn continued, the glider then abruptly pitched 60° nose down and completed two spins before he lost sight of it about 100 ft agl. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONA survey of the wreckage site revealed that the glider had impacted flat, desert terrain in a steep nose-down attitude, about 1,375 ft northeast of the approach end of runway 17. The glider came to rest inverted. The first point of impact was a relatively shallow depression in the dirt 7 ft southwest of the main wreckage, which measured about 49-ft long,
Probable cause
The pilot's exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while attempting a thermal climb at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude that precluded recovery.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
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.
