Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS IIIT accident near Hawthorne, Nevada, July 30, 1986
On July 30, 1986 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS IIIT (glider), registered N141V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hawthorne, Nevada. 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 30, 1986 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hawthorne, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS IIIT NIMBUS III
- Registration
- N141V · registry record · serial 3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A 5 HOUR FLIGHT IN THE MOTORIZED GLIDER DURING WHICH THE ENGINE WAS UTILIZED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE PILOT RETURNED TO HIS DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL HE EXECUTED A NUMBER OF LOW PASSES OVER THE RUNWAY FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FLY BY CONFIDENT THAT ENOUGH FUEL REMAINED FOR THE MANEUVER. DURING THE PULLUP THE REMAINING FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. NO FUEL GAUGE NOR LOW FUEL WARNING INDICATOR WAS INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOT HAD NO WAY OF ACCURATELY DETERMINING FUEL REMAINING. THE PLTS FLYING TIME WAS NOT REPORTED.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 277 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Flying 'M' Rnch NV at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Observation at 10:30 pm from HTH, 15 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.