Alexander Schleicher accident near Paragonah, Utah, June 24, 2003
On June 24, 2003, a Alexander Schleicher (glider), registered DKIMK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paragonah, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's encounter with unsuitable terrain during a precautionary landing. Contributing factors were the strong winds and the approaching vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2003
- Place
- Paragonah, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alexander Schleicher
- Registration
- DKIMK · no longer on the register · serial 24845
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was having difficulty maintaining control of the glider due to strong winds. He decided to land on a dirt road, but abandoned the attempt when he saw an approaching vehicle. The pilot landed in an adjacent field, approximately 2 miles south of the airport of departure. During the landing, the glider struck rough terrain that severed the empennage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 1L9 Parowan UT at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.