Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B N41RE

Summary

On 25 June 2024 at about 23:18 local time, a Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B registered N41RE was involved in an accident near Nephi, Utah, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2024 at 23:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Nephi, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Nephi Muni (U14)

Coordinates

39.0000, -111.0000

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B

Registration

N41RE

Category

Glider

Year built

1998

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA249

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a wind encounter, which resulted in a hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.