# Accident 19910407008989A: Sphrth VENTUSB, Lake Cobb, CA, April 7, 1991

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 1991, 15:00 local time
- Place: Lake Cobb, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8302° N, 122.7102° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8302&lon=-122.7102&mi=10
- Aircraft: N81PT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N81PT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 (registry code 3802061, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-b-16-6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SPHRTH VENTUSB
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 23,125 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX91LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910407008989A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SOARING OVER MOUNTAINS RAN OUT OF THERMALS. STRUCK HIDDEN WIRE OFF AIRPORT LANDING. FAILED SEE WIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX91LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA163), Apr 7, 1991: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6 (N81PT), Lake Cobb, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THAT THE PILOT'S VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS IMPROPER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNMARKED TRANSMISSION WIRE.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
