Glaser Dirks DG300 accident near Morgan, Utah, July 31, 2010
On July 31, 2010 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Glaser Dirks DG300 (glider), registered N30AS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Morgan, Utah (Morgan County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall/spin and ground impact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 2010 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Morgan, Utah · Morgan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glaser Dirks DG300 NO SERIES
- Registration
- N30AS · registry record · serial 3E14
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident pilot and a second glider pilot were operating in the same area about 7,400 feet mean sea level (msl). The accident pilot informed the second pilot over the radio frequency that he was climbing between 300 to 500 feet per minute (fpm). About an hour later, the second pilot learned from another pilot at the departure airport that the accident pilot had not returned. A subsequent search over the area resulted in the second pilot spotting the wreckage in a canyon about 6 nautical miles southeast of the departure airport. Track-log data recovered from an onboard recording device revealed that, after takeoff, the glider ascended to an altitude of about 9,100 feet msl during the first eight minutes of the flight. Additionally, the track-log data showed that about 28 minutes into the flight, at an altitude of 8,800 feet msl, the glider began a progressive descent, which lasted about 15 minutes until the glider impacted remote mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 6,500 feet msl. During the last 2 minutes of the flight, the ground speed fluctuated twice over a 15-knot range and was at 40 knots just before the altitude dropped abruptly and the glider descended vertically to the ground elevation in the last 12 seconds. A postaccident examination of the accident site revealed the entire glider was located in the general area where the impact occurred, there was no linear distribution path, and no indication of an in-flight breakup. The trees surrounding the accident site were not disturbed and the glider impacted the terrain in a steep angle, consistent with a stall/spin. No anomalies were noted 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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 992 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 42U Morgan UT at 8:07 pm
- Destination: 42U Morgan UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from OGD, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N30AS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.