# NTSB WPR24LA249: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, N41RE, Nephi, UT, June 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 25, 2024, 17:18 local (23:18 UTC) - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39, -111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0000&lon=-111.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194721/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194721 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA249 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a wind encounter, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 DISCUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 DISCUS-2B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=3801904), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he obtained the wind information at the airport, which was about 10 kts sustained directly down the runway, prior to starting his approach. While on short final, he encountered wind shear at approximately 50 ft above ground level. The pilot closed the spoilers and pushed the flight stick forward to maintain his airspeed with the intention of flying through the wind shear. However, the glider rapidly descended towards the ground and the pilot was unable to arrest the descent before the glider impacted the runway. According to the pilot, his slow airspeed during the landing likely prevented him from arresting his descent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41RE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41RE), registered now, S/N 10, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH DISCUS-2B - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-discus-2b) (registry code 3801904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 10 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 1905 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2024 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: U14, Nephi Muni, runway 17/35, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; last flight review August 7, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 362.6 total, 269.6 in this make and model, 303.6 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KPUC, 38 nm away - METAR: METAR KPUC 252253Z AUTO 30014G20KT 10SM CLR A3009 RMK AO2 SLPNO $= ## 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 20240625009189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240625009189A), Jun 25, 2024: Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, Nephi, UT, Substantial damage. On June 25, 2024 at ~1255 MDT, the PIC departed U14 as part of an organized glider event scheduled in Nephi ut. The flight was uneventful and the PIC began… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194721. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17468955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N41RE_6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 411 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17484328&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=accident%20photographs-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.