Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, July 8, 1987
On July 8, 1987 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II (glider), registered N71JD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1987 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II
- Registration
- N71JD · registry record · serial 45
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT WAS FLYING IN A NATIONAL SOARING CONTEST. THE GLIDER WAS TOWED TO 2000 FEET AGL AND RELEASED. THE PLT REPORTED MAKING A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN AFTER RELEASE, HOWEVER HE NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL STICK WAS MORE AFT THAN NORMAL. AS THE FLIGHT PROGRESSED, THE STICK CAME TO A FULL AFT POSITION. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY UP ELEVATOR CONTROL RESPONSE. THE ALTITUDE HAD DETERIORATED TO 1300 FEET AGL. THE PLT BAILED OUT SUCCESSFULLY. THE ACFT INVERTED, ENTERED A FLAT SPIN AND CRASHED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE BELIEVED THE ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS INADVERTENTLY ASSEMBLED IMPROPERLY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN REPORTED LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 758 hours in all; 378 in this make and model; 758 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 816 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HBB Hobbs NM at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from HOB, 2 miles away
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.