Schleicher ASW27 accident near Ely, NV
On July 11, 2020, a Schleicher ASW27 (glider) was involved in an accident near Ely, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 11, 2020
- Place
- Ely, NV
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW27 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.297°N, 114.748°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200711X31628
Official records · WPR20LA216
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 11, 2020, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, an Alexander Schleicher ASW 27 18 (or ASG 29) glider, N167TM, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Ely, Nevada. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the accident pilot was an experienced glider pilot who was part of a group that annually flew out of Ely due to its thermal soaring weather. A friend reported that the glider pilot had likely planned to establish new records in speed and/or distance when the accident occurred. Data obtained from an onboard air data computer showed that the glider was released about 1124 on a southeast heading. The glider then turned to the north and began a series of right (clockwise) climbing turns. During the climb, the glider’s position gradually shifted northeast about 2.5 nm. At 1141, after having changed course to counterclockwise climbing turns, the glider made a left turn to the east and began a descent toward the Schell Creek Mountain Range and the location of the accident site. As it approached a group of mountains at an approximate field elevation of 8,500 ft msl, the glider made a slight left turn followed by a right turn toward the south. At 1144:25, the glider made its final right turn and climbed from about 9,400 ft msl to about 9,700 ft msl, which was followed by a steady descent and rapidly progressed into a steep descent. The final data point was captured at 1144:52 and showed the glider at an approximate altitude of 9,167 ft msl and a
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of glider control while maneuvering near a mountain ridge in downdrafts and dry microbursts at an altitude that precluded recovery.
More accidents in NV
- Cessna 425, Jan 12, 1992
- Cessna TU206G, Dec 7, 1986
- Beech A36TC, Dec 25, 2003
- Cessna T21OL, Mar 1, 1982
- Pilatus PC-12/45, Feb 25, 2023
Browse: Nevada · Schleicher 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.
