# NTSB DEN03LA143: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6, N25RN, Boulder, CO, August 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2003, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Boulder, CO - Coordinates: 39.95, -105.366668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9500&lon=-105.3667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57694/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA143 ## Probable cause pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making. Contributing factors include the thunderstorms, the lack of suitable terrain available for a precautionary landing and the water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Ditching, landing - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - not available (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he noted the formation of thunderstorms and rain showers along his route of flight. He elected to return to the airport. During his return flight, thunderstorms developed along the foothills, just west of the airport. Due to the inadequate lift to sustain flight and with unsuitable terrain between his position and the airport, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing in the reservoir. During the precautionary landing, the glider was substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2003, at 1415 mountain daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6 glider, N25RN, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Gross Reservoir, near Boulder, Colorado. The commercial certificated flight instructor, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight being operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The glider departed Boulder, Colorado, at 1130. According to the pilot, he was soaring 8 miles northeast of Mount Evans, when he noted the formation of thunderstorms and rain showers along his route of flight. He elected to return to Boulder. During his return flight, thunderstorms developed along the foothills, just west of Boulder. Due to the inadequate lift to sustain flight and with unsuitable terrain between his position and Boulder, the pilot decided to ditch the glider in Gross Reservoir. The pilot reported that he positioned the glider to land into the wind, a "west/northwest direction[,] parallel to the shore." During the impact with the water, the glider canopy was destroyed and the wings were separated from the fuselage at mid-span. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25RN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25RN-2003-11-25), registration cancelled 2003-11-25, S/N 221, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6 - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-b-16-6) (registry code 3802061) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 221 - Airframe hours: 1600 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pedja Bogdanovich - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2003, 35 hours before - Departed: 1V5, Boulder, CO - Destination: 1V5, Boulder, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review July 10, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 867 total, 170 in this make and model, 799 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 20 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 12 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030807019859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030807019859A), Aug 7, 2003: Sphrth VENTUSB166, Gross Reservoir, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Bogdanovich (mr.b) stated he was on a cross country soaring trip when the thunderstorm front developed very rapidly along the front range. He decided… ## Other investigations on N25RN (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 DEN85LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA216), Aug 10, 1985: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B (N25RN), Colorado Sprgs, CO, substantial damage 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. --- 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.