Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B and Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A mid-air collision near Minden, Nevada, July 12, 1988
On July 12, 1988 at about 9:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B (N554T) and Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A (N130JB), were involved in a mid-air collision near Minden, Nevada. No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1988 · about 9:35 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B · all DISCUS Bs on the register
- Registration
- N554T · registry record · serial 11
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A · all DISCUS As on the register
- Registration
- N130JB · registry record · serial 74
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WERE ASCENDING IN THE SAME THERMAL DURING NATIONAL SOARING COMPETITION AND COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. N554T SUSTAINED LOSS OF THE HORIZONTAL TAIL IN COLLISION, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT PARACHUTED SAFELY. N130JB SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND LANDED SAFELY. PILOTS STATED THEY HAD LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WERE ASCENDING IN THE SAME THERMAL DURING NATIONAL SOARING COMPETITION AND COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. N554T SUSTAINED LOSS OF THE HORIZONTAL TAIL IN COLLISION, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT PARACHUTED SAFELY. N130JB SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND LANDED SAFELY. PILOTS STATED THEY HAD LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER.
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 for the Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,290 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 3,160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1988; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEV at 7:15 pm
- Destination: MEV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:57 pm from RNO, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,112 hours in all; 541 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 525 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1988; 135 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEV at 7:15 pm
- Destination: MEV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N554T on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schempp-Hirth DISCUS B 29 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- N130JB on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schempp-Hirth DISCUS A 11 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Minden-Tahoe Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,591 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA88LA128.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.