# Accident 20140218002259A: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, Burnsville, NC, February 18, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 2014, 10:00 local time
- Place: Burnsville, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.7686° N, 82.2019° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7686&lon=-82.2019&mi=10
- Aircraft: N411SD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N411SD-2026-03-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B (registry code 3802053, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,329 total, 345 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA126) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140218002259A

## Narrative

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

REPORT FROM TOW PILOT STATED THAT AFTER RELEASE OF THE GLIDER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE DESCENT. TOW PILOT CALLED GLIDER PILOT AND ASKED IF HE WAS OK AND THE GARBLED STATEMENT WAS YES. THE TOW PILOT STATED SHE HAD TOLD THE GLIDER PILOT SHE SAW THE SPOILER PLATES EXTENDED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE TOW PILOT WATCHED THE GLIDER IMPACT THE TREES APPROX 3 MILES SOUTH OF THE MT. MITCHELL GOLF COURSE. PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY TO BACK. AIRCRAFT IS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. PICTURES AND REPORT PACKGAE RECIEVED FROM DETECTIVE BRIAN SHUFORD FROM THE LOCAL SHERILLS DEPARTMENT.

## 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 ERA14CA126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA126), Feb 18, 2014: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2B (N411SD), Burnsville, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the spoilers, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent impact with trees.

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.