# Accident 20180710010819A: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, Goldfield, NV, July 10, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 10, 2018, 16:00 local time
- Place: Goldfield, NV
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6439° N, 117.3650° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6439&lon=-117.3650&mi=10
- Aircraft: N104TH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N104TH-2020-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS (registry code 38019VS, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-cs) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH DISCUS CS
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR18TA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA192) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180710010819A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 10, 2018, ABOUT 1832 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHEMPP HIRTH DISCUS CS GLIDER, N104TH, GROUND LOOPED DURING A FORCED OFF AIRPORT LANDING, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF LIFT, NEAR GOLDFIELD, NEVADA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE GLIDER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND BOTH WINGS. THE GLIDER WAS REGISTERED TO SPARROWHAWK21 LLC. AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM TONOPAH AIRPORT (TPH), TONOPAH, NEVADA ABOUT 1330.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEVIATED TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT, DUE TO DETERIORATING WEATHER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REACH HIS SELECTED OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE, HE ENCOUNTERED CONTINUOUS SINKING AIR. HE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE IT AND MADE THE CHOICE TO LAND ON A NEARBY ROAD. DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED A DIRT BERM THAT PARALLELED THE ROAD, WHICH CAUSED A GROUND LOOP. THE GLIDER CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

## 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 WPR18TA192](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA192), Jul 11, 2018: Schempp Hirth Discus CS (N104TH), Goldfield, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.

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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