Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT N900BM

Summary

On 18 May 2012 at about 19:15 local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT registered N900BM was involved in an accident near Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 2012 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Duncansville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.4011, -78.5164

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT

Registration

N900BM

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reedsville → Reedsville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA352

1 person was seriously injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions not sufficient to clear terrain, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue turning toward a ridgeline.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the glider was towed to an altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level, released, and then flown for more than 2 hours without incident. He was subsequently looking for lift and performing "S" turns, while flying away from a ridgeline. During one of the "S" turns, he encountered a 200- to 300 foot-per-minute increase in lift and elected to continue the left turn. However, when the glider turned back toward the ridgeline, it encountered a large downdraft and loss of airspeed. The glider stalled, spun to the left, and struck trees. The glider's tail boom separated and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he should not have continued the left turn and that standard training techniques called for continuing to perform "S" turns when close to a ridge or mountain until the glider reaches an altitude of at least 200 to 300 feet above the highest point to provide adequate altitude to recover from possible stalls caused by downdrafts.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.