Accident Schempp-Hirth Ventus cM N102AG,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 39295
 
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.

Date:Saturday 14 September 1991
Time:13:20 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic VENT model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Schempp-Hirth Ventus cM
Owner/operator:Children Of The Mist Inc.
Registration: N102AG
MSN: 37
Total airframe hrs:197 hours
Engine model:SOLO 2350C
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Category:Accident
Location:New Castle, VA -   United States of America
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
WITNESSES REPORTED THE MOTORIZED GLIDER LIFTED, CLIMBED, AND THEN DESCENDED INTO A 45 FOOT HIGH POWERLINE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THE GLIDER TAKEOFF RUN WAS LONGER THAN USUAL. WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE OVER 4000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE CHARTS, THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND TOTAL DISTANCE OVER A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS 1696 AND 2972 FEET RESPECTIVELY BASED ON AN ELEVATION OF 1500 FEET AND 86 DEGREE F TEMPERATURE. THE AIRFIELD ELEVATION WAS 1320 FEET, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 96 DEGREES F. THE GLIDER WAS DETERMINED TO BE ABOUT 15 LBS OVERGROSS. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING WAS A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CAUSING DETERIORATED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERGROSS AIRCRAFT CONDITION.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: BFO91LA082
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 11 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB BFO91LA082

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
24-Oct-2008 10:30 ASN archive Added
02-Nov-2009 02:32 DColclasure Updated
21-Dec-2016 19:23 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency]
11-Apr-2024 12:13 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org