# Accident 20070616012909A: Amtr NIMBUS3DM, Genoa, NV, June 16, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 2007, 13:52 local time
- Place: Genoa, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0008° N, 119.7550° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0008&lon=-119.7550&mi=10
- Aircraft: N374AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N374AM-2015-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM (registry code 3801952, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-nimbus-3dm) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR NIMBUS3DM
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 108 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA07CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA162) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070616012909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE MINDEN-TAHOE AIRPORT FOR LANDING, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS CAUGHT IN A DOWNDRAFT AND REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE FIELD. HE ELECTED TO LAND HIS GLIDER IN AN ALFALFA FIELD, APPROXIMATELY FOUR (4) MILES WEST OF THE AIRPORT. UPON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND IRRIGATION DITCH. THE WINDS WERE VERY STRONG AND THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THESE STRONG WINDS COMING OVER THE MOUNTAINS CREATED ROTOR WIND ACTIVITY IN WHICH HE EXPERIENCED GOOD UPDRAFT CONDITIONS AS WELL AS THE STRONG DOWNDRAFT CONDITIONS. WEATHER REPORTED AT RNO AT THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS A TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES; DEW PT 26; 9% HUMIDITY; WINDS SOUTH @16, G29; VISIBILITY 10SM; PRESSURE 29.93.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA07CA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA162), Jun 16, 2007: Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3DM (N374AM), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight's encounter with severe downdrafts during cruise flight. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadvertent selection of unsuitable terrain with hidden obstructions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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