# NTSB ERA15LA375: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT, N710JC, Blacksburg, VA, September 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 2015, 14:52 local (18:52 UTC) - Place: Blacksburg, VA - Coordinates: 37.155834, -80.324447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1558&lon=-80.3244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92056 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92056/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92056 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA375 ## Probable cause A loss of thermal lift during a motor glider flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines during the off-airport landing attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the motor glider in an annual soaring competition. The pilot reported that the motor glider was towed to 2,500 ft and then released. He subsequently performed a routine test of the engine and observed no anomalies; he then shut down the engine and stowed it before beginning the first leg of the competition. About 20 miles from the departure airport, the motor glider began losing altitude due to a loss of thermal lift, and the pilot then prepared for an off-airport landing. He deployed the retractable engine and attempted to start it but was unsuccessful. The pilot set up for landing to a field. He did not see power lines bordering the approach end of the field, and the motor glider impacted the power lines and then descended to the ground in a nose-down attitude. ## Factual narrative On September 24, 2015, about 1452 eastern daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT motorglider, N710JC, was substantially damaged when it impacted a wire and trees during an off-airport landing in Blacksburg, Virginia. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport (BCB), Blacksburg, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the pilot, he was flying in an annual soaring competition. He departed from BCB about 1215 with a tow up to an altitude of 2,500 feet, then released from the tow plane. He subsequently performed a routine test run of the 20-horsepower engine and observed no anomalies. He then shut down and stowed the engine before beginning the first leg of the competition. About 20 miles from BCB, he had difficulty finding thermals for lift. The glider began losing altitude and he prepared for an off airport landing. He deployed the glider's retractable engine; however, as he attempted to start the engine, it "sputtered" and would not run. In a post accident statement, he postulated that he held the decompression valve open long enough for the engine to build rpm, but was not sure due to the circumstances of being low and preparing for an off airport landing. He set up for landing in a field, but did not see the power lines bordering the approach end of the field, and contacted the wires before impacting the ground. According to a witness, they heard the motorglider fly over and "the engine was loud and seemed to be struggling or missing. It did not sound normal." The pilot reported 2,500 hours of total flight experience and 255 of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident motorglider. He held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot's last flight review was on May 2, 2015. He did not have a medical certificate, nor was he required to when operating a glider. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the motorglider struck a wire and trees and impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The forward fuselage was crushed, and the right wing was fractured and separated about one-third span from the wing tip. The fuel shut off valve and the fuel pump switch were in the off position. The 1455 recorded weather observation at BCB, located about 7 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, included wind from 100 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles clear skies, temperature 23 degrees C, dew point 12 degrees C; barometric altimeter setting of 30.28 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N710JC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N710JC-2016-12-14), registration cancelled 2016-12-14, S/N 231, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS 2CT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2ct) (registry code 3800267) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Solo 2350 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/solo-2350-series) (registry code 58107, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 231 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 283 - Engines: SOLO 2350 20 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2015 - Departed: BCB, Blacksburg, VA - Destination: BCB, Blacksburg, VA - Equipment: Data recorder, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 255 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KBCB, 7 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 20150924015629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150924015629A), Sep 24, 2015: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, Blacksburg, VA, Destroyed. Pilot was on a sailing competition flight. He had to make an off airport landing due to lack of lift. He impacted a powerline on final into a farm field. Pilot… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92056. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434374&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 4, .PDF, 455 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.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. --- 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.