# NTSB NYC07CA186: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C, N60LK, Greensboro, VT, August 4, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2007, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Greensboro, VT - Coordinates: 44.599998, -72.25 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6000&lon=-72.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66382/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA186 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to divert to a suitable landing area. Contributing to the accident was the uneven terrain of the forced landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Forced landing, descent - normal - weather condition - unfavorable wind - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot departed the airport on a local flight in his sailplane, and flew to a point approximately 65 miles to the east. During the return leg of the flight, the "lift deteriorated" and the "headwind increased." The pilot realized he would not reach the airport, so he opted to perform a precautionary landing. He selected a "large hayfield," and the "approach and landing were successful." However, during the rollout, the left wingtip contacted terrain, and the sailplane groundlooped to the left causing substantial damage.. At the time of the accident, the surface winds, approximately 40 miles west of the accident site, were recorded as 350 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 23 knots. The recorded surface winds for the 2 hours prior to this were similar, with directions of 010 to 350 degrees, and speeds of 12 to13 knots and gusts of 18 to 20 knots. In his report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot noted that he should have "diverted to an airport" sooner. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he departed Warren-Sugarbush Airport on a local flight at approximately 1300 eastern daylight time in his Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C sailplane, and flew to a point approximately 65 miles to the east. During the return leg of the flight, the "lift deteriorated" and the "headwind increased." At approximately 1700, the pilot realized he would not reach the airport, so he opted to perform a precautionary landing. He selected a "large hayfield," and later stated that the "approach and landing were successful." However, during the rollout, the left wingtip contacted terrain, and the sailplane groundlooped to the left. A postaccident examination revealed that the tailboom had separated from the forward portion of the fuselage. At the time of the accident, the surface winds, approximately 40 miles west of the accident site, were recorded as 350 degrees at 18 knots, with gusts to 23 knots. The recorded surface winds for the 2 hours prior to this were similar, with directions of 010 to 350 degrees, and speeds of 12 to13 knots and gusts of 18 to 20 knots. In his report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot noted that he should have "diverted to an airport" sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: N60LK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C - Category: Glider - Serial number: 106 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tim Donovan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2007 - Departed: 0B7, Warren, VT - Destination: 0B7, Warren, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 3,074 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,950 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 18 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KBTV, 40 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 20070804017789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070804017789A), Aug 4, 2007: Sphrth VENTUS2C, Greensboro, VT, Substantial damage. (-23) After departing the warren-sugarbush gliderport (0B7) on a local cross country glider flight to mt. Washington, NH and back to 0B7, the pilot encountered… 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.