# NTSB ERA20CA178: Schempp Hirth Ventus 2CT, N514TW, Stuarts Draft, VA, May 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2020, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Stuarts Draft, VA - Coordinates: 37.9925, -78.981391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9925&lon=-78.9814&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101264/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101264 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA178 ## 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 delayed attempted engine start. ## 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) - [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) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=3800267), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/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 After departing on a local flight, the pilot of the motor glider crossed a ridge line into a valley at an altitude of about 8,000 ft mean sea level, and then glided to the south in search of lift, but was unsuccessful. He decided to land on a brown, flat, field that appeared to be recently tilled. The pilot set up for a landing, and then deployed the glider's sustainer engine. The engine did not start, so he continued his approach to land. During the landing, the right wing struck the ground, the glider ground looped, and was substantially damaged. The flight manual for the sustainer engine advised that, the sustainer engine should only be extended and started when there was suitable terrain for landing within gliding distance, and furthermore, below 984 ft above ground level, starting attempts were to be avoided "so as to have a safe height left for planning the approach pattern should the engine fail to run!" The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the glider, and that he would recommend trying to start the sustainer engine at a higher altitude. ## Factual narrative After departing on a local flight, the pilot of the motor glider crossed a ridge line into a valley at an altitude of about 8,000 ft mean sea level, and then glided to the south in search of lift, but was unsuccessful. He decided to land on a brown, flat, field that appeared to be recently tilled. The pilot set up for a landing, and then deployed the glider's sustainer engine. The engine did not start, so he continued his approach to land. During the landing, the right wing struck the ground, the glider ground looped, and was substantially damaged. The flight manual for the sustainer engine advised that, the sustainer engine should only be extended and started when there was suitable terrain for landing within gliding distance, and furthermore, below 984 ft above ground level, starting attempts were to be avoided "so as to have a safe height left for planning the approach pattern should the engine fail to run!" The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the glider, and that he would recommend trying to start the sustainer engine at a higher altitude.. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N514TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N514TW), registered now, S/N 191, built 2007 (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: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 191 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 2150.6 - Engines: SOLO 2350 26 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 26, 2020 - Departed: 2VA3, Amelia Court House, VA - Destination: 2VA3, Amelia Court House, VA - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,000 total, 142 in this make and model, 13,732 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: SHD, 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 20200511003469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200511003469A), May 11, 2020: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT, Stuarts Draft, VA, Destroyed. Pilot departed (2VA3) in merlin, VA. Upon crossing a ridge line into waynesboro, VA at approx 8000 ft MSL the pilot was unable to gain lift and began losing… ## Other investigations on N514TW (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 WPR10LA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA294), Jun 15, 2010: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT (N514TW), Parowan, UT, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101264. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum For The Record - Accident Involving N514TW (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20The%20Record%20-%20Accident%20Involving%20N514TW-Master.PDF - Engine Information (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Information-Master.PDF - Weather Report and Records - KSHD METARs (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Records%20-%20KSHD%20METARs-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 5, .PDF, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484986&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.