# NTSB LAX07CA206: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C, N11YD, Bridgeport, CA, July 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2007, 16:17 local (23:17 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, CA - Coordinates: 38.256111, -119.223335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2561&lon=-119.2233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA206 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with an unfavorable wind and high sink rate conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause) - altitude - inadequate - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The glider landed short of the runway after encountering unfavorable wind conditions. According to the pilot and data retrieved from an on-board data recorder, heavy sink was experienced while the pilot maneuvered in the pattern to land, which reduced the glide ratio from 50:1 to 10:1. With inadequate altitude to compensate for the sink, the glider impacted a berm in the rough terrain several hundred feet short of the runway, whereupon it nosed over. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 2007, at 1617 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C, N11YD, made an off field landing and nosed over in Bridgeport, California. The glider was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The glider was operated by the pilot. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Truckee, California, about 1330. The pilot of a tow plane reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the pilot was considered to be extremely experienced and was familiar with the area. The tow pilot released the accident glider over the Truckee Airport, about 1,600 feet above the ground. The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that while soaring an unfavorable wind was encountered. He attempted to land at the Bridgeport airport, but upon experiencing "heavy sink," the glider touched down in rough terrain a few hundred feet short of runway 34. The glider impacted a berm. The pilot reported that in still air his glider has a glide ratio of about 50:1. According to his data logger, on final approach during the accident flight his glide ratio had decreased to about 10:1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11YD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11YD-2009-01-12), registration cancelled 2009-01-12, S/N 76 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C - Registry model: [Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ventus-2c) (registry code 3802054) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 76 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dean A. Aldinger - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: TRK, Truckee, CA - Destination: O57, Bridgeport, CA - Airport: O57, Bryant Field, runway 34, 4,239 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,500 total, 472 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast ## 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 20070705013269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070705013269A), Jul 5, 2007: Sphrth VENTUS2C, Bridgeport, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot statement 7-11-07: I was able to repair the instruments enough in my glider today to retrive the information from my data logger. I can now be much… 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.