# NTSB GAA15CA133: Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2C, N172VC, Hobbs, NM, June 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2015, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.779445, -103.222221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7794&lon=-103.2222&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91428/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91428 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA133 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper compensation for gusty wind conditions which resulted in impact with terrain short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing on the runway 12 ramp area and entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern at 1000 feet above the ground. The pilot reported that downdrafts caused the glider's rapid loss of altitude and was unable to reach the landing area. The pilot landed in a field northwest of the airport where the glider impacted a mesquite bush with the left wing and ground looped. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, canopy, and left wing. Runway 12 is 8,810 feet long by 150 feet wide. The ramp area that parallels the runway to the north side is 7500 feet long by 350 feet wide. A weather reporting station five miles south of the accident site reported wind from 140 degrees at17 knots and gusting to 24 knots prior to the accident. A review of local weather data showed there were no strong lifting mechanisms for the formation of clouds or precipitation near the surface at the time of the accident and the pilot likely encountered gusty surface wind while descending to the airport. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing on the runway 12 ramp area and entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern at 1000 feet above the ground. The pilot reported that downdrafts caused the glider's rapid loss of altitude and was unable to reach the landing area. The pilot landed in a field northwest of the airport where the glider impacted a mesquite bush with the left wing and ground looped. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, canopy, and left wing. Runway 12 is 8,810 feet long by 150 feet wide. The ramp area that parallels the runway to the north side is 7500 feet long by 350 feet wide. A weather reporting station five miles south of the accident site reported winds from 140 degrees at17 knots and gusting to 24 knots prior to the accident. A review of local weather data showed there were no strong lifting mechanisms for the formation of clouds or precipitation near the surface at the time of the accident and the pilot likely encountered gusty surface winds while descending to the airport. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N172VC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS 2C (NO SERIES) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 17 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 1534 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: KEITH MILLER and DAVID Van Der LINDEN - Registered owner: KEITH MILLER and DAVID Van Der LINDEN - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2015 - Departed: NM83, Hobbs, NM - Destination: NM83, Hobbs, NM - Airport: NM83, Industrial Airpark, runway 12, 8,810 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; last flight review December 17, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 960 total, 944 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 17 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KHOB, 4 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 20150623008509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150623008509A), Jun 23, 2015: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2C, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. On June 23, 2015, at 1730 cmt, a Schempp-Hirth ventus-2C glider, bearing registration number N172VC, registered to the pilot, encountered a strong downdraft of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91428. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Study Report (item 2, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Study%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Glider (Courtesy of pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Glider%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-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.