# Accident 20090808025359A: Schempp-Hir VENTUS 2CM, Mobile, AL, August 8, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2009, 09:45 local time
- Place: Mobile, AL
- Airport: St. Elmo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.5019° N, 88.2750° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5019&lon=-88.2750&mi=10
- Aircraft: N70ZZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70ZZ-2009-11-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CM (registry code 3802001, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2cm) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIR VENTUS 2CM
- Reported engine: SOLO 2625-1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 405 total, 121 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA455) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090808025359A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 8, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 CDT A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS CM2 POWERED GLIDER , N70ZZ, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, IMPACTED HARD WHILE RETURNING TO LAND FOLLOWING A REPORTED PARTIAL ENGINE POWER  LOSS DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM ST. ELMO, AL (2R5). VISUAL METEORLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE SOLE OCCUPANT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. PILOT DID NOT SUMP TANK PRIOR TO FLIGHT.THE PILOT CLAIMED TO HAVE SEEN A SUBSTANTIAL MAG DROP ON TAKEOFF ROLL  BUT DECIDED TO CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER. AFTER A LONG TAKE-OFF ROLE HE BECAME AIRBORNE AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND STALLED THE GLIDER, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED .3 MILES AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT.

## 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 ERA09LA455](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA455), Aug 8, 2009: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CM (N70ZZ), St. Elmo, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing.

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.

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