# NTSB MIA85LA167: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B, N40EE, Winter Haven, FL, May 7, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 7, 1985, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Winter Haven, FL - Coordinates: 27.98047, -81.780174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9805&lon=-81.7802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 31396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31396/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA167 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot of other aircraft - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS B, N40EE, WAS POSITIONED ON RWY 29 TO BE TOWED ON A COMPETITION GLIDER FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT OF THE GLIDER. THE WIND WAS FROM 030 DEG AT 8 KTS. AS THE TAKEOFF COMMENCED, THE GLIDER WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RWY, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING, THEN THE GLIDER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, BUT THE GLIDER CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 305A, N54550, THAT WAS RETURNING FROM ITS 4TH TOW MISSION & WAS TAXIING ABOUT 75 FT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS B, N40EE, WAS POSITIONED ON RWY 29 TO BE TOWED ON A COMPETITION GLIDER FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT OF THE GLIDER. THE WIND WAS FROM 030 DEG AT 8 KTS. AS THE TAKEOFF COMMENCED, THE GLIDER WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RWY, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING, THEN THE GLIDER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, BUT THE GLIDER CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 305A, N54550, THAT WAS RETURNING FROM ITS 4TH TOW MISSION & WAS TAXIING ABOUT 75 FT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N40EE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-B - Category: Glider - Serial number: 110 - Airframe hours: 125 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley F. Nelson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 1984, 31 hours before - Departed: GIF - Airport: GIF, Winter Haven, runway 29, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N54550](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54550), registered now, S/N JV5, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A - Registry model: [Cessna-Vansant Interprises-Inc 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-vansant-interprises-inc-305a) (registry code 207408E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: JV5 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470 213 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: High Performance Soaring Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GIF - Airport: GIF, Winter Haven, runway 29, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N40EE; age 52; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 13,564 total, 229 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N54550; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,960 total, 36 in this make and model, 2,407 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BOW, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19850507018681A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850507018681A), May 7, 1985: Sphrth VENTUSB, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. Started glider tow at angle to tow plane. Lost control, released tow rope, ground looped, struck taxiing N54550. - [Accident 19850507018682A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850507018682A), May 7, 1985: Cessna 305A, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage. Struck by out of control glider 4033 during taxi after landing. Tow aircraft was returning for next tow. 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.