- Date
- June 19, 2000, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Warren, VT
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N800PFSchempp-Hirth Ventus 2CM
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 19, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000619039839A
- Case key
- 49478
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. A factor in the accident was the cross wind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While participating in a glider race without motorized power, the pilot received a radio call from the airport that the winds had changed direction and landings were being conducted on Runway 22. While turning base to final for the runway, the pilot was unable to stop the turn with full opposite aileron due to turbulence. As the motorglider descended, the pilot was able to level the wings, but was 90 degrees to the runway and 'into the trees.' The pilot raised the nose of the glider to decrease airspeed, and the motorglider stalled, impacting trees short of the runway. The winds reported by an airport located about 13 miles east of the accident were from 350 degrees at 7 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 19, 2000, about 1630 Eastern Daylight Time, a Schempp-Hirth, Ventus 2CM motorglider, N800PF, was substantially damaged while maneuvering to land at the Warren-Sugarbush Airport, Warren, Vermont. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot was participating in a glider race at the airport. The race was to be conducted without motorized power and the motorglider was towed to altitude.
According to the pilot, after crossing the finish line at the end of the race, he received a radio call from the airport that the winds had changed direction and landings were being conducted on Runway 22. The pilot executed a 180-degree turn and entered the traffic pattern for the runway. While turning base to final, the pilot was unable to stop the turn with full opposite aileron due to turbulence. As the motorglider descended, the pilot was able to level the wings, but was 90 degrees to the runway and "into the trees." The pilot raised the nose of the glider to decrease airspeed, and the motorglider stalled, impacting trees short of the runway.
The winds reported by an airport located about 13 miles east of the accident, at 1651, were from 350 degrees at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N800PF
- Reported as
- Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CM
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 75
- Airframe hours
- 40
- Engine
- Solo, 45 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Peter S. Fuss
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 0B7
- Airport
- Warren-Sugarbush Airport, runway 22, 2,575 × 30 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 49 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MPV, 13 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.