# NTSB CEN10CA495: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, N710RJ, Madisonville, TX, August 20, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2010, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Madisonville, TX
- Coordinates: 30.907777, -95.95111
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9078&lon=-95.9511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77057
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA495
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77057/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77057
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA495

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while landing in a crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3802053), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=3802053), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=3802053), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3802053), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was unable to maintain enough lift in his glider to return back to the airport. He opted to perform an off-airport landing in a field about two miles short of the runway. During the landing, with a 90-degree crosswind that was approximately 15 to 18 knots, the glider ground-looped and collided with a tree. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated he was unable to maintain enough lift in his glider to land back at the airport, so he attempted to land in a field about 1.9 miles short of the runway. During the landing, in a 90 degree crosswind that was approximately 15 to 18 knots, the pilot ground looped the glider and collided with a mesquite tree. The tail boom and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N710RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N710RJ-2013-10-31), registration cancelled 2013-10-31, S/N 148, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-2B
- Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2b) (registry code 3802053) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 148
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hollenberg Richard A
- Registered owner: Hollenberg Richard A
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 89TA, Houston, TX
- Destination: None, Madisonville, TX
- Airport: None, None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 4,730 total, 540 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100820046839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100820046839A), Aug 20, 2010: Schempp-Hir VENTUS-2B, Madisonville, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was maneuvering about 1.9 miles from the Madisonville airport when he had to land off field, due to the loss of thermal activity. The pilot selected…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77057. 442 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 442 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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