Amateur-built DISCUS CS accident near Goldfield, Nevada, July 11, 2018
On July 11, 2018 at about 1:32 am local time, a 2001 amateur-built DISCUS CS (glider), registered N104TH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Goldfield, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2018 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Goldfield, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DISCUS CS No Series, built 2001
- Registration
- N104TH · no longer on the register · serial 287 CS
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, during the personal glider flight, the weather conditions deteriorated, so he chose to land the glider at an alternate airport. While attempting to reach the alternate airport, the glider encountered continuous sinking air. When he realized the glider would not reach the alternate airport, the pilot chose to land on a nearby road. Just before touchdown, the right wing impacted a berm that paralleled the road, and the glider subsequently cartwheeled and then came to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The glider encountered atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing on uneven terrain.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of lift during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Thermal lifting › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,135.5 hours in all; 165.5 in this make and model; 80.1 in the last 90 days; 41.4 in the last 30 days; 2,055.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 7, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 349.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 5, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Sparrowhawk21 LLC.
The flight
- Departed from: TPH Tonopah NV at 8:30 pm
- Destination: TPH Tonopah NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 1:31 am from KTPH, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 5, 2018. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.