DEN85LA216

NTSB accident investigation · Schempp-Hirth Ventus B · Colorado Sprgs, CO · August 10, 1985

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: August 10, 1985, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place: Colorado Sprgs, CO
Injuries: 1 serious
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N25RNSchempp-Hirth Ventus B
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850810037809A
Case key: 16745

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb

Airspeed - uncontrolledPilot in commandCause

Altitude - uncontrolledPilot in commandCause

Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skidTakeoff - initial climb

Analysis

During takeoff the glider left wing touched the ground. The glider then cartwheeled sustaining substantial damage.

Aircraft

Registration: N25RN
Reported as: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B
Category: Glider
Serial number: 221
Engine: unknown
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Nelson B. Nolan
Registered owner: Nelson B.Noland
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Airport: CO26 · Black Forest Glider Port, runway 17, 5,000 × 20 ft, asphalt

N25RNRegistration cancelled Nov 25, 2003 · Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6S/N 221 · Built 1985 Airframe modelSchempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 Engine modelNONENone

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: 58
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Center
Flight hours: 1,620 total · 28 in this make and model · 1,539 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 15 knots
Visibility: 15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 81 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19850810037809ASphrth Ventusb · Colorado Spring, COLifted off before tow plane, pitched up and stalled. Right wing and nose impacted runway.Aug 10, 1985 · N25RN · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N25RN · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN03LA143Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoulder, COpilot'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.Aug 7, 2003 · Substantial damage