Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Aguila, Arizona, June 23, 2018
On June 23, 2018 at about 9:08 pm local time, a 1970 Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (glider), registered N7880, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Aguila, Arizona (Sampley'S 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 exceedance of the glider's critical angle of attack while attempting a thermal climb at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude that precluded recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2018 · about 9:08 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Aguila, Arizona · Sampley'S · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS UNDESIGNAT, built 1970 · all STANDARD CIRRUSs on the register
- Registration
- N7880 · no longer on the register · serial 80
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot departed the airport via a tow winch for a local area flight. The tow winch driver reported that the takeoff and flight in the pattern were normal. When he observed the glider again, about 3 minutes later, it was crossing the approach end of the runway at an altitude of about 400 ft. The glider made a right 360° turn, abruptly pitched 60° nose-down and completed two spins. The glider came to rest inverted on the desert floor. An examination of the glider revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. Investigators established flight control continuity, and all breaks were attributed to impact forces. Given the glider's circling at low altitude, it is likely that the pilot encountered atmospheric lift (thermal) and was attempting to climb when he inadvertently exceeded the glider's critical angle of attack and entered an aerodynamic stall/spin. The glider's low altitude at the time of the spin entry would have precluded recovery.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,184 hours in all; 188 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2018
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 28AZ Aguila AZ at 8:59 pm
- Destination: 28AZ Aguila AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KBXK, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statements | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement (Mander) | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Examination Report | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Report Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7880: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS 64 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- Sampleys Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 467 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,436 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR18FA178.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.