Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM N374AM
16 June 2007 · Minden, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 16 June 2007 at about 21:30 local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM registered N374AM was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Minden, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.0008, -119.7550
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM
- Registration
- N374AM
- Category
- Glider
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Minden → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA07CA162
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The flight's encounter with severe downdrafts during cruise flight. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadvertent selection of unsuitable terrain with hidden obstructions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the motor glider reported that he had been airborne on a local soaring flight for about 30 minutes when the flight encountered "severe downdrafts." Due to the downdrafts, he was unable to return to the airport and had to land in an alfalfa field. During the landing roll, the glider collided with a ditch and a fence that were not visible during the landing approach.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2008 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-4M | Ephrata, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 2012 | Schempp Hirth NIMBUS II | Redmond, Oregon, United States | John R Bentley | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 2001 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS-3DM | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Jun 2001 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 | Montague, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2014 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 3/24.5 | Wallis, Texas, United States | Coggins David L | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS 4DM | Minden, Nevada, United States | William S. Ivans | Fatal | 2 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 May 2007 | MD Helicopters 500-E | Yerington, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Nov 2007 | Cessna T182T | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Dion J. DeCamp | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Nov 2007 | Beechcraft A36 | Jean, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 2007 | Cirrus SR22 | Reno, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Sep 2007 | Socata TB20 | Beatty, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 2007 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Winnemucca, Nevada, United States | US Dept of the Interior | Minor injuries | - |