Fatal Motorglider Accident Near Boulder City, Nevada (N588V)

Accident Overview and Flight Details On February 24, 2022, a Distar CZ AS Sun Dancer motorglider, registration N588V, was destroyed in an accident near Boulder City, Nevada. The aircraft was operating as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was fatally injured. ADS-B data indicated the glider departed Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU) at approximately 13:15 local time, climbing to 3,100 feet MSL before descending. Contact was lost around 13:19 local time at an altitude of 2,375 feet MSL, about one mile northwest of the accident site. ## Witness and Impact Information A witness near the site reported observing the glider circling at low altitude above a solar panel farm, with the engine sounding normal. First responders determined that the glider impacted three power lines located approximately 60 feet above the ground. The main wreckage came to rest upright beneath the power lines. ## Pilot and Medical Findings The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate and a commercial glider rating, with approximately 2,418 total flight hours. He had completed transition training in the accident aircraft about one week prior to the accident. Toxicology results from the Clark County Coroner's Office and the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory revealed significant ethanol levels in the pilot's blood, vitreous fluid, and urine. Diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, was also detected in his system. ## Mechanical Examination Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Flight control continuity was established, with separations consistent with overload or the recovery process.