Schleicher ASW 27-18, N929JK, fatal accident occurred on August 1, 2025, near Morgan, Utah

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N929JK

- History of the Flight:

On August 1, 2025, at about 1344 local time, a Schleicher ASW 27-18 glider, N929JK, registered to L/D Max Sales LLC out of Missoula, Montana, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Morgan, Utah. The sole pilot onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local personal flight originated from Morgan County Airport (42U), Morgan, Utah.

According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, earlier in the day, the glider departed 42U at 0821 LT on a short 22 minute flight around the airport. The glider did not fly near any mountains during this leg. The glider departed a second time at 0938 LT on a 24 minute flight that followed a similar pattern to the first one (figure 1).

Figure 1: ADS-B Exchange data for 1st and 2nd flight

The accident flight (Figure 2) originated from 42U at 1331 LT. The glider departed runway 21 and climbed to an altitude of 5400 ft before conducting a left turn towards the northeast. At 1336:25, the glider was at 7000 ft when it conducted a right turn towards the south. At 1337:47, the glider conducted a right turn, and was now tracking north and climbed to an altitude of 8000 ft before beginning a series of maneuvers close to a cliffside (figure 3). At about 1343:06, the glider stopped these maneuvers and began descending from that altitude (while heading north). At 1343:28, the glider conducted a left turn and continued descending until it reached 7100 ft. At 1344:18, the glider conducted a descending right turn, which continued until it impacted a mountain side. At one point during this turn, the average rate was -7200 feet per minute. The last ADS-B return was recorded in the immediate vicinity of the accident site, the glider was at 6500 ft, 105 knots groundspeed, and descending -1000 feet per minute. (figure 4)

Figure 2: Accident Flight

Figure 3

Figure 4

- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The glider was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. The accident site elevation was roughly 7000 ft. The accident sparked a wildfire on the mountain that was contained to 3 acres.

- Pilot Info:

Unknown at this point.

- Aircraft Info:

The non-powered single seat glider, MSN 29007, was manufactured in 2006. It is equipeed with plain flaps, winglets, a retractable undercarriage and a water ballast system.

- Airport Info:
Morgan County Airport (42U), is a public airport located 8 miles northwest of Morgan, Utah. It sits at an elevation of 5020 ft, and features a single asphalt runway 3/21 that is 3904 x 50 ft.

- Weather:

The nearest recorded weather at KHIF, at 1355 (about 11 minutes after the accident), included: winds 150 at 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, no clouds under 12000ft AGL, temperature: 31°C, dewpoint -2°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.23 inches of mercury.

METAR KHIF 011855Z AUTO 23004KT 10SM CLR 30/01 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02980013=

METAR KHIF 011955Z AUTO 15003KT 10SM CLR 31/M02 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP167 T03091018=

METAR KHIF 012055Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM CLR 32/M02 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03191022 57008=

- Additional Information:

This is the first fatal accident involving a glider in 2025 on US soil.