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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2018 · about 9:08 pm local time
- Place
- Aguila, Arizona · Sampley'S · 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 |
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.