# NTSB WPR18FA178: Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus, N7880, Aguila, AZ, June 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report - Date: June 23, 2018, 14:08 local (21:08 UTC) - Place: Aguila, AZ - Coordinates: 33.930831, -113.178054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9308&lon=-113.1781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 2 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 97558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18FA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97558/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97558 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA178 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while attempting a thermal climb at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude that precluded recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=38019VE), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=38019VE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=38019VE), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=38019VE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=38019VE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot departed the airport via a tow winch for a local area flight. The tow winch driver reported that the takeoff and flight in the pattern were normal. When he observed the glider again, about 3 minutes later, it was crossing the approach end of the runway at an altitude of about 400 ft. The glider made a right 360° turn, abruptly pitched 60° nose-down and completed two spins. The glider came to rest inverted on the desert floor. An examination of the glider revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. Investigators established flight control continuity, and all breaks were attributed to impact forces. Given the glider's circling at low altitude, it is likely that the pilot encountered atmospheric lift (thermal) and was attempting to climb when he inadvertently exceeded the glider's critical angle of attack and entered an aerodynamic stall/spin. The glider's low altitude at the time of the spin entry would have precluded recovery. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2018, about 1408 mountain standard time, a Schempp-Hirth glider, N7880, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Aguila, Arizona. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses located at Sampley's Airport (28AZ), Aguila, Arizona, the pilot had arrived at the airport earlier in the day. Witnesses stated the pilot flew one 3-minute flight that morning before departing on the accident flight about 1359. The driver of the glider tow vehicle reported the launch was normal, and no anomalies occurred. He observed the glider depart the upwind leg of the traffic pattern and turn right. He noted that the glider was about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) while on the downwind leg. About 3 minutes later, he began to reel in the tow winch, and observed the glider near the approach end of runway 17 traveling west. He further reported that the glider made a right 360° turn with about a 30° bank angle, while at 400 ft agl. the turn continued, the glider then abruptly pitched 60° nose down and completed two spins before he lost sight of it about 100 ft agl. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner, Phoenix, Arizona, performed a postmortem examination of the pilot. The cause of death was reported as blunt force injuries. The FAA Forensic Sciences Bioaeronautical Science Research Lab, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. The results were negative for volatiles and tested-for-drugs. A survey of the wreckage site revealed that the glider had impacted flat, desert terrain in a steep nose-down attitude, about 1,375 ft northeast of the approach end of runway 17. The glider came to rest inverted. The first point of impact was a relatively shallow depression in the dirt 7 ft southwest of the main wreckage, which measured about 49-ft long, 1-inch wide, and 1-inch deep. The forward fuselage and cockpit area were destroyed. The aft fuselage remained intact; however, the fuselage-to-empennage section had separated, but the flight control tubes remained connected. Flight control continuity was established from the rudder attach point forward to the rudder pedals. The stabilator remained attached to the top of the vertical stabilizer at all attached points. Flight control continuity was established from the stabilator forward to the control stick. The left wing was partially separated from the fuselage at both attach points. The leading edge exhibited some crushing damage consistent with vertical impact. The aileron control tube was separated at the hollow rivet attach point. Post-accident investigation revealed no pre impact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The right wing remained attached to the fuselage. The leading edge exhibited some crushing damage consistent with vertical impact. The aileron control tube and spoiler control tube remainedattached to their respective bell cranks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7880](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7880-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 80, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH STANDARD CIRRUS (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-standard-cirrus) (registry code 38019VE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 80 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 1520 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2018 - Departed: 28AZ, Aguila, AZ - Destination: 28AZ, Aguila, AZ - Airport: 28AZ, Sampley'S, runway 17, 3,500 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,184 total, 188 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 104 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: KBXK, 40 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180623007659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180623007659A), Jun 23, 2018: Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS, Aguila, AZ, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On June 23, 2018, about 1408 MST, N7880, a Schempp-Hirth, Standard Cirrus glider, sustained substantial damage after impact with terrain while maneuvering near… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97558. 4.1 MB in all. - Witness statements (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10070850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (mander) (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10071642&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=JMander%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB examination report (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 789 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10072735&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR18FA178%20-%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 640 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10071514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Toxicology%20-%20AReichenberger_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident report photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11508834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Photograph%20Log-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.