Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 31 MI accident near Ely, Nevada, July 5, 2017
On July 5, 2017 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2010 Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 31 MI (glider), registered N31MX, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Ely, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2017 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASH 31 MI NO SERIES, built 2010
- Registration
- N31MX · no longer on the register · serial 31003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,127 hours in all; 362 in this make and model; 123 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 3,127 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 12, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 567 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,543 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Diamond AE50R (piston); 55 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELY Ely NV at 7:00 pm
- Destination: ELY Ely NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KELY, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N31MX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA17CA386.