# NTSB DEN08LA137: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2A, N777UN, Brackettville, TX, August 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 2008, 15:32 local (20:32 UTC) - Place: Brackettville, TX - Coordinates: 29.211111, -99.743331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2111&lon=-99.7433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Enroute-climb to cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68667 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA137 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68667/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA137 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The failure of the pilot of N777UN to exit the thermal upon losing visual contact with the other gliders, resulting in a midair collision. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of the pilot of N777UN to exit the thermal upon losing visual contact with the other gliders, resulting in a midair collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible, aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240), aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470), aircraft 2; cases with it: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606KT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) According to the pilot of N110RG, he was stabilized in a right 55 degree bank and had completed three turns when he heard a loud bang and immediately "lost control." The right wing dropped, the glider rolled to the right, and went inverted. The pilot of N110RG exited the glider and deployed his parachute. During the egress he was seriously injured. According to the pilot of N777UN, he had observed two gliders in the thermal in front of him and entered the thermal underneath them. After two turns in the thermal, he lost sight of the two gliders and collided, shortly thereafter, with N110RG. His left wing and winglet impacted the right wing of the other glider. The pilot of N777UN landed uneventfully. N110RG was destroyed and N777UN sustained minor damage. The damage to the right wing, sustained during the collision, rendered N110RG uncontrollable. Soaring procedure recommend that the pilot exit a thermal if visual contact is lost with another glider and cannot be established via a radio call. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) According to the pilot of N110RG, he was stabilized in a right 55 degree bank and had completed three turns when he heard a loud bang and immediately "lost control." The right wing dropped, the glider rolled to the right, and went inverted. The pilot of N110RG exited the glider and deployed his parachute. During the egress he was seriously injured. According to the pilot of N777UN, he had observed two gliders in the thermal in front of him and entered the thermal underneath them. After two turns in the thermal, he lost sight of the two gliders and collided, shortly thereafter, with N110RG. His left wing and winglet impacted the right wing of the other glider. The pilot of N777UN landed uneventfully. N110RG was destroyed and N777UN sustained minor damage. The damage to the right wing, sustained during the collision, rendered N110RG uncontrollable. Soaring procedure recommend that the pilot exit a thermal if visual contact is lost with another glider and cannot be established via a radio call. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On August 9, 2008, at 1532 central daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2A glider, N777UN, collided with an AB Sportine Aviacija Genesis 2 glider, N110RG, during a sailplane race six miles north of Brackettville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flights were being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without flight plans. The pilot of N777UN was uninjured, while the pilot of N110RG sustained serious injuries. Both flights departed Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, approximately 1300. The gliders involved in this midair collision were competing in the Soaring Society of America, 15 meter class National Sailplane Race. According to a telephone conversation with and subsequent accident report form submitted by the pilot of N110RG, he was following behind another glider at an altitude of 5,000 feet, heading for the first turn point in the competition. The glider in front of him entered a thermal and the pilot of N110RG established visual contact with the other pilot before entering the thermal behind him. He stabilized a right 55 degree bank and had completed three turns when he heard a loud bang and immediately "lost control." The right wing dropped, the glider rolled to the right, and went inverted. The pilot of N110RG exited the glider and deployed his parachute. During the egress, he was struck in the neck by some portion of the glider. The parachute deployed without issue; however, the landing was hard, resulting in serious injuries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the accident, N110RG impacted terrain six miles north of Brackettville. The glider wreckage was inverted and exhibited signatures of a "right hand spin" prior to impact. A "heavy rub mark and gash" was noted on the bottom side of the right wing. The gash transitioned into a tear and partial separation of fiberglass. Material and paint transfer in the gash were consistent with the winglet of N777UN. The inspector stated that this damage would have inhibited the use of the right aileron and spoileron. According to a telephone conversation with and subsequent accident report form submitted by the pilot of N777UN, he had observed two gliders in the thermal in front of him and entered the thermal underneath them. After two turns in the thermal, he lost sight of the two gliders and collided, shortly thereafter, with N110RG. His left wing and winglet impacted the right wing of the other glider. The pilot of N777UN landed uneventfully at UVA. The FAA inspector reported that the winglet on N777UN was swept back 45 degrees. Material and paint transfer in the winglet were consistent with the surface area of the wing of N110RG. According to the FAA Glider Flying Handbook - Chapter 10, Soaring Techniques, it is recommended that if the pilot looses sight of another glider in a thermal and cannot establish position via radio contact, "leave the thermal." Radio procedures during a soaring competition are not permitted. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On August 9, 2008, at 1532 central daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2A glider, N777UN, collided with an AB Sportine Aviacija Genesis 2 glider, N110RG, during a sailplane race six miles north of Brackettville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flights were being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without flight plans. The pilot of N777UN was uninjured, while the pilot of N110RG sustained serious injuries. Both flights departed Garner Field Airport (UVA), Uvalde, Texas, approximately 1300. The gliders involved in this midair collision were competing in the Soaring Society of America, 15 meter class National Sailplane Race. According to a telephone conversation with and subsequent accident report form submitted by the pilot of N110RG, he was following behind another glider at an altitude of 5,000 feet, heading for the first turn point in the competition. The glider in front of him entered a thermal and the pilot of N110RG established visual contact with the other pilot before entering the thermal behind him. He stabilized a right 55 degree bank and had completed three turns when he heard a loud bang and immediately "lost control." The right wing dropped, the glider rolled to the right, and went inverted. The pilot of N110RG exited the glider and deployed his parachute. During the egress, he was struck in the neck by some portion of the glider. The parachute deployed without issue; however, the landing was hard, resulting in serious injuries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who traveled to the accident, N110RG impacted terrain six miles north of Brackettville. The glider wreckage was inverted and exhibited signatures of a "right hand spin" prior to impact. A "heavy rub mark and gash" was noted on the bottom side of the right wing. The gash transitioned into a tear and partial separation of fiberglass. Material and paint transfer in the gash were consistent with the winglet of N777UN. The inspector stated that this damage would have inhibited the use of the right aileron and spoileron. According to a telephone conversation with and subsequent accident report form submitted by the pilot of N777UN, he had observed two gliders in the thermal in front of him and entered the thermal underneath them. After two turns in the thermal, he lost sight of the two gliders and collided, shortly thereafter, with N110RG. His left wing and winglet impacted the right wing of the other glider. The pilot of N777UN landed uneventfully at UVA. The FAA inspector reported that the winglet on N777UN was swept back 45 degrees. Material and paint transfer in the winglet were consistent with the surface area of the wing of N110RG. According to the FAA Glider Flying Handbook - Chapter 10, Soaring Techniques, it is recommended that if the pilot looses sight of another glider in a thermal and cannot establish position via radio contact, "leave the thermal." Radio procedures during a soaring competition are not permitted. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N777UN (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2A - Category: Glider - Serial number: 74 - Airframe hours: 1283 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007 - Departed: UVA, Uvalde, TX - Destination: UVA, Uvalde, TX ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N110RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N110RG-2009-01-29), registration cancelled 2009-01-29, S/N 2005, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AB Sportine Aviacija Genesis 2 - Registry model: [AB Sportine Aviacija GENESIS 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/ab-sportine-aviacija-genesis-2) (registry code 05606KT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 2005 - Airframe hours: 500 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008 - Departed: UVA, Uvalde, TX - Destination: UVA, Uvalde, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N777UN; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review April 1, 2008; seat: center; flight hours: 25,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N110RG; age 49; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: center; flight hours: 699 total, 314 in this make and model, 623 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: UVA, 45 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080809844681A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809844681A), Aug 9, 2008: Sphrth VENTUS2A, Uvalde, TX, Minor damage. (-23) N777UN and N110RG had a midair collision. The wing tip on N777UN cut into the wing on N110RG, causing part of the lower skin to separate from the wing.… - [Accident 20080809845822A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809845822A), Aug 9, 2008: Amtr GENESIS2, Uvalde, TX, No damage. (-23) N777UN and N110RG had a midair collision. The wing tip on N777UN cut into the wing on N110RG, causing part of the lower skin to separate from the wing.… 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.