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| Date: | Monday 1 July 2019 |
| Time: | 13:59 |
| Type: |  Schempp-Hirth Arcus M |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N215MM |
| MSN: | 32 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2012 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Ephraim, UT -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Nephi Municipal Airport, UT (U14) |
| Ephraim, UT | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On July 1, 2019 about 1356 mountain daylight time, a Schempp Hirth Arcus M glider, N215MM, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Ephraim, Utah. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The glider was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed within the area and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from Nephi Municipal Airport (U14), Nephi, Utah at 1228.
The pilot and passenger onboard the glider was participating in a soaring competition. Data from an onboard flight recorder were consistent with the pilot climbing in various areas of thermal lift, reaching a peak altitude of 6,935 ft above ground level about 50 minutes into the flight. During the subsequent approximate 30 minutes of the flight, the glider proceeded south southwesterly along a ridgeline, circling several times in different locations, but the glider continued to descend. Data indicated that the glider was in a right turn about 185 ft above terrain before it impacted a tree. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Review of weather information indicated a conditionally unstable environment and likely thermal lift in the area, though satellite imagery depicted clear skies over the immediate area of the accident site, with fair weather cumulus clouds located east of the site. Wind conditions in the area of the accident site were likely insufficient to provide orographic lift.
The pilot's maneuvering in close proximity to terrain was consistent with his attempt to obtain or remain in an area of lift; it is possible that the glider may have encountered adverse wind that resulted in a loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery, or that the pilot initiated a 360° turn at an inadequate distance from terrain.
Probable Cause: The pilot's decision to maneuver in close proximity to terrain while attempting to remain in an area of lift, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR19FA183
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99745
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N215MM
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Jul-2019 06:06 | gerard57 | Added |
| 02-Jul-2019 06:17 | RobertMB | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, ] |
| 02-Jul-2019 08:04 | tom glider | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, Embed code, ] |
| 02-Jul-2019 08:56 | RobertMB | Updated [Registration, Cn, ] |
| 02-Jul-2019 17:28 | Geno | Updated [Destination airport, Source, ] |
| 02-Jul-2019 19:08 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, ] |
| 08-Jul-2022 15:29 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 30-Dec-2024 13:40 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Photo, ] |
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