Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C accident near Briggs, Texas, July 21, 2002
On July 21, 2002 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C (glider), registered N141SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Briggs, Texas (Flf airport). 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 failure to maintain clearance with the high grass during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2002 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Briggs, Texas · Flf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth K.G. Nimbus-2C
- Registration
- N141SF · registry record · serial 220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, on 300-foot wide grass airstrip, the right wing of the glider dropped and struck the tall grass adjacent to the runway. Subsequently, the glider ground-looped and came to rest on a 340 degree magnetic heading. The tailboom was fractured at the leading edge of the stabilizer. The pilot stated the wind was approximately 3 to 5 knots from the south. The wing span of the glider was approximately 66 feet.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,366 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,334 as pilot in command; 189 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,029.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 16, 2002; 21.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,433 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX23 Briggs TX
- Destination: TX23 Briggs TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,500 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.