Schempp-Hirth Discus-2CT accident near Julian, Pennsylvania, August 8, 2006
On August 8, 2006 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth Discus-2CT (glider), registered N93FR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Julian, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to restart the glider's engine. A factor in the accident was a loss of thermal lift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2006 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Discus-2CT · all Discus-2CTs on the register
- Registration
- N93FR · no longer on the register · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had performed a cross country glider flight and was returning to his home airport, around dusk, when the glider "got a bit low." The pilot attempted to start the glider's engine, at approximately 1,200 feet AGL, but was unsuccessful, because he could not maintain the required excessive nose down attitude for engine start. The pilot then initiated a 180 degree turn to perform a forced landing to a field. During the turn, the glider encountered "very strong sink," and impacted the edge of a residence. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the glider. He also stated that he should have "abandoned glider flight" and started the engine when he was in the vicinity of an airport.
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: single-engine land; instructor: glider
- Flight time: 669 hours in all; 70 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Solo 2350 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 79N Julian PA at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 79N
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 10:43 pm from UNV, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N93FR 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 NYC06CA198.