# NTSB DEN99LA117: Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6, N176V, Hobbs, NM, July 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1999, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.730545, -103.159561 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7305&lon=-103.1596&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46786 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46786/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning. Factors were the loss of thermal lift, the subsequent stall/spin, and the fence post that he impacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, descent - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence post (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to glider race officials, the pilot was returning to the airport, and was approximately 14 nautical miles out. The pilot said that the lift conditions were deteriorating, and he needed to land-out. He said that he selected a road to land on, but as he approached his landing point, he became aware of transmission wires. He subsequently maneuvered his glider away from the wires, but stalled his aircraft. The pilot said that he caught a wing tip, and the glider rotated into a fence. The glider was broken in half, and the nose and vertical stabilizer were damaged. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1999, approximately 1730 mountain daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus B/16.6 glider, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing (i.e., landing-out) near Hobbs Industrial Park Airport, Hobbs, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which originated approximately 4.5 hours before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to race officials, the pilot was returning to Hobbs, and was approximately 14 nautical miles from the airport. The pilot said that the lift conditions were deteriorating, and he needed to land-out. He said that he selected a road, but as he approached his landing point, he became aware of transmission wires. He subsequently maneuvered his glider away from the wires, but "stalled his aircraft." The pilot said that he caught a wing tip, and the glider rotated into a fence. The glider was broken in half, and the nose and vertical stabilizer were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N176V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N176V-1999-11-18), registration cancelled 1999-11-18, S/N 353 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 (VENTUS B/1) - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-b-16-6) (registry code 3802061) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 353 - Airframe hours: 1042 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark L. Saunders - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 1999, 36 hours before - Departed: HBB ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: center; flight hours: 1,798 total, 182 in this make and model, 1,546 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HOB, 9 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 19990711008899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990711008899A), Jul 11, 1999: Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. Acft landed short of intended landing area, struck fence post, and ground looped. (-23) the following is an accident report from the department of public… 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.