Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B accident near Nephi, Utah, June 25, 2024
On June 25, 2024 at about 11:18 pm local time, a 1998 Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B (glider), registered N41RE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nephi, Utah (Nephi Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a wind encounter, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2024 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Nephi, Utah · Nephi Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth DISCUS-2B, built 1998 · all DISCUS-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N41RE · registry record · serial 10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he obtained the wind information at the airport, which was about 10 kts sustained directly down the runway, prior to starting his approach. While on short final, he encountered wind shear at approximately 50 ft above ground level. The pilot closed the spoilers and pushed the flight stick forward to maintain his airspeed with the intention of flying through the wind shear. However, the glider rapidly descended towards the ground and the pilot was unable to arrest the descent before the glider impacted the runway. According to the pilot, his slow airspeed during the landing likely prevented him from arresting his descent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 362.6 hours in all; 269.6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 303.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 7, 2022
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KPUC, 38 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPUC 252253Z AUTO 30014G20KT 10SM CLR A3009 RMK AO2 SLPNO $=
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 March 6, 2025. 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 Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR24LA249.