Summary
On July 05, 2017, a Alexander Schleicher Gmbh & Co ASH 31 MI (N31MX) was involved in an accident near Ely, NV. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/spin.
The glider pilot reported that while maneuvering about 10,000 ft. mean sea level he "lost control" and the glider went into a spin, followed by a spiral. He added that he egressed from the glider, deployed his parachute, and was later rescued. The glider impacted terrain and was destroyed.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA386. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N31MX.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to maintain the proper airspeed and his exceedance of the glider’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall/spin.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The glider pilot reported that while maneuvering about 10,000 ft. mean sea level he "lost control" and the glider went into a spin, followed by a spiral. He added that he egressed from the glider, deployed his parachute, and was later rescued. The glider impacted terrain and was destroyed.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA386