Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 N81PT
7 April 1991 · Lake Cobb, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 7 April 1991 at about 22:00 local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 registered N81PT, operated by Richard Carter, was involved in an accident near Lake Cobb, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lake Cobb, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.8302, -122.7102
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6
- Registration
- N81PT
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Richard Carter
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Vacaville → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA163
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THAT THE PILOT'S VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS IMPROPER. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNMARKED TRANSMISSION WIRE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER THE AERO TOW RELEASED THE PILOT SOARED TO MT. ST. HELENA AND THEN ONTO COBB MOUNTAIN WHERE THERMAL LIFT WAS REPORTED. UPON ARRIVING OVER COBB MOUNTAIN HE DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY THERMAL LIFT. REALIZING A FORCED LANDING WAS IMMINENT THE PILOT SELECTED A OFF-FIELD LANDING AREA WHICH WAS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE FIELD WAS UNOBSTRUCTED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL WIRE FENCE WHICH POSED NO PROBLEM FOR THE OFF-FIELD LANDING. THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE A SMALL TRANSMISSION WIRE WHICH CROSSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE ABOUT 25 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE WIRE WHICH CAUSED THE GLIDER TO NOSE DOWN ABOUT 40 DEGREES AND STRIKE THE GROUND IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schempp-Hirth VENTUS accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 1991 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B | Mojave, California, United States | Hutchinson Family Trust | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS C | Durango, Colorado, United States | Charles C. Henning | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS CM | Marfa, Texas, United States | Rogar N. Buchanan | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1992 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A/16.6 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | ROY S. Cundiff | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1990 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 | Hawthorne, Nevada, United States | Richard T. Mockler | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1994 | Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-C | Fairfield, Pennsylvania, United States | Savory, William J. | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1991 | Cessna C-172P | Hesperia, California, United States | South Bay Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Napa, California, United States | Bridgeford Flying SVC. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft 76 | Sacramento, California, United States | Altair Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Ayres S2R | Visalia, California, United States | Gilbert Aviation Industries | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Cessna 421C | Auburn, California, United States | Edward Mueller | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Champion 7GCBC | Lake Elsinore, California, United States | Halbeisen, John F | Fatal | 2 |