# Accident 20170705015259A: Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASH 31 MI, Ely, NV, July 5, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2017, 11:00 local time
- Place: Ely, NV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3150° N, 114.7569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3150&lon=-114.7569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31MX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31MX-2018-02-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI (registry code 3801549, https://openairdocs.org/model/alexander-schleicher-ash-31-mi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Diamond AE50R (registry code 21100, https://openairdocs.org/engine/diamond-ae50r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALEXANDER SCHLEICHER GMBH & CO ASH 31 MI
- Reported engine: DIAMOND AE50R
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,127 total, 360 in this make and model, 112 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA386) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170705015259A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT HAD TRANSITIONED FROM POWERED FLIGHT TO GLIDING MODE, AND WAS CIRCLING IN LIFT.

THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BECAME DIVERGENT FROM WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN ROTOR AND SEVERE TURBULANCE AND ENTERED A STALL SPIN  CONDITION. AFTER APPLYING CORRECTIONS TO STOP THE STALL SPIN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. THE PILOT FELT THE AIRFRAME FUTTER, THEN QUIT. AT THAT POINT IN TIME, HE ELECTED TO BAIL OUT.

THE PILOT HAS NO IDEA WHY THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE STALL SPIN .

## 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 GAA17CA386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA386), Jul 5, 2017: Alexander Schleicher ASH 31 MI (N31MX), Ely, NV, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/spin.

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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