# NTSB WPR18TA192: Schempp Hirth Discus CS, N104TH, Goldfield, NV, July 11, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2018, 18:32 local (Jul 11, 2018, 01:32 UTC)
- Place: Goldfield, NV
- Coordinates: 37.64389, -117.364997 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6439&lon=-117.3650&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 97748
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97748/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97748
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA192

## 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.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=38019VS), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot reported that, during the personal glider flight, the weather conditions deteriorated, so he chose to land the glider at an alternate airport. While attempting to reach the alternate airport, the glider encountered continuous sinking air. When he realized the glider would not reach the alternate airport, the pilot chose to land on a nearby road. Just before touchdown, the right wing impacted a berm that paralleled the road, and the glider subsequently cartwheeled and then came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The glider encountered atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.

## Factual narrative

On July 10, 2018, about 1832 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS glider, N104TH, collided with terrain 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 local 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 during the long cross country flight, he had to deviate 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. Just prior to 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 pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N104TH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N104TH-2020-04-14), registration cancelled 2020-04-14, S/N 287 CS, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS (No Series)
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-cs) (registry code 38019VS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 287 CS
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 349.8
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sparrowhawk21 LLC.
- Registered owner: Sparrowhawk21 LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 5, 2018
- Departed: TPH, Tonopah, NV
- Destination: TPH, Tonopah, NV
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,135.5 total, 165.5 in this make and model, 2,055.6 as pilot in command, 80.1 in the last 90 days, 41.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KTPH, 28 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 20180710010819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180710010819A), Jul 10, 2018: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS CS, Goldfield, NV, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97748. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 291 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.

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