Schempp-Hirth MINI-NIMBUS N100GG
28 April 1999 · Groveland, Florida, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 28 April 1999 at about 18:00 local time, a Schempp-Hirth MINI-NIMBUS registered N100GG was involved in an accident near Groveland, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Groveland, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Seminole Lake Glider Port (6FL0)
- Coordinates
- 28.5599, -81.8494
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth MINI-NIMBUS
- Registration
- N100GG
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Seminole Lake → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL99LA076
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to locate a thermal and the in-flight encounter with a down draft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
After the tow release at 1600 feet, the pilot began to search for thermal pockets. Failing to find a thermal, the pilot elected to return to the airport. The pilot stated that he encountered downdrafts which increased his rate of descent to approximately 1000 feet per minute. Realizing that there was not sufficient altitude to return to the airport safely, the pilot elected to make an emergency landing in a nearby field. The glider subsequently collided with a barbed wire fence during the emergency landing, causing substantial damage. The glider sustained damage to both wings and a broken canopy. No mechanical problems with the glider were reported by the pilot.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 1999 | Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 | Zephyrhills, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Oct 1999 | Piper PA-28-161 | Lake Wales, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1999 | Cessna 182P | Lantana, Florida, United States | Valerie E. Eikenberg | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Oct 1999 | Robinson R-22-MARINER | West Boca Raton, Florida, United States | Volar Helicopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Oct 1999 | Beechcraft D35 | Indiantown, Florida, United States | Christopher M. Conlisk | Unknown | - |
| 19 Dec 1999 | Piper PA-24-400 | Naples, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |