Schempp Hirth ARCUS accident near Ephraim, UT
On July 1, 2019, a Schempp Hirth ARCUS (glider) was involved in an accident near Ephraim, UT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 1, 2019
- Place
- Ephraim, UT
- Aircraft
- Schempp Hirth ARCUS · Glider
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.385°N, 111.499°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190701X10819
Official records · WPR19FA183
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 1, 2019, about 1359 mountain daylight time, a Schempp Hirth Arcus M glider, N215MM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Ephraim, Utah. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger were participating in a soaring competition when the accident occurred. Data from the glider’s PowerFLARM-IGS flight recorder indicated that the glider departed from Nephi Municipal Airport (U14), Nephi, Utah, at 1230:47. At 1238:19, the glider encountered its first thermal and gained another 2,158 ft in altitude. Over the next 40 minutes, the glider flew north, then east, during which time it encountered four different thermals and the pilot climbed to 6,935 ft above ground level (agl). At 1323:30, the glider turned south over Manti-La Sal National Forest (Wasatch Plateau). During the next 36 minutes, the glider continued roughly south-southwest along a ridgeline, circling in several areas; however, the glider continued to descend. The last recorded data point, at 1359:47, indicated that the glider was in a right turn was about 185 ft agl. Figure 1. Accident Site Location METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONThe National Weather Service (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart for the accident time depicted a dissipating stationary front extending west to east over southern Idaho and Wyoming. A high-pressure system at 1014-hectopascals (hPa) was located over southern Utah immediately south of the accident site, with a general high-pressure ridge exte
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to maneuver in close proximity to terrain while attempting to remain in an area of lift, which resulted in a collision with trees.
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Browse: Utah · 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.
