# NTSB NYC85FA152: Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B, N240WT, Waitsfield, VT, June 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1985, 15:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Waitsfield, VT
- Location: 44.1835° N, 72.8343° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Waitsfield, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1835&lon=-72.8343&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC85FA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85FA152

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THIS GLIDER WAS INVOLVED IN A SOARING CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE. ABOUT 52 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE COURSE WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERING FOR A LANDING ON AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE IN A STEEP BANK THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N240WT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS-B
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 6/1
- Airframe hours: 382
- Engines: unknown UNK unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David J. Shapiro
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1985, 17 hours before
- Departed: QB7, WARREN, VT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 286 total, 198 in this make and model, 269 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken

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.

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