- Date
- September 14, 1991, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- New Castle, VA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N102AGSchempp-Hirth Venus CM
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910914039879A
- Case key
- 11704
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N102AG
- Reported as
- Schempp-Hirth Venus CM
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 37
- Airframe hours
- 197
- Engine
- Solo 2350C, 26 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Children Of The Mist Inc., doing business as
- Registered owner
- Children Of The Mist Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 19, 1990 · 196 hours before
- Airport
- New Castle Gliderport, runway 36, 3,000 × ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,889 total · 267 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ROA, 10 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.