Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM N102AG
14 September 1991 · New Castle, Virginia, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 September 1991 at about 17:20 local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM registered N102AG, operated by Children of the Mist Inc., was involved in an accident near New Castle, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New Castle, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- New Castle Gliderport
- Coordinates
- 37.4998, -80.1090
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM
- Registration
- N102AG
- Category
- Glider
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Children of the Mist Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Not Reported
- NTSB number
- BFO91LA082
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING WAS A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CAUSING DETERIORATED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERGROSS AIRCRAFT CONDITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES REPORTED THE MOTORIZED GLIDER LIFTED, CLIMBED, AND THEN DESCENDED INTO A 45 FOOT HIGH POWERLINE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THE GLIDER TAKEOFF RUN WAS LONGER THAN USUAL. WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE OVER 4000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE CHARTS, THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND TOTAL DISTANCE OVER A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS 1696 AND 2972 FEET RESPECTIVELY BASED ON AN ELEVATION OF 1500 FEET AND 86 DEGREE F TEMPERATURE. THE AIRFIELD ELEVATION WAS 1320 FEET, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 96 DEGREES F. THE GLIDER WAS DETERMINED TO BE ABOUT 15 LBS OVERGROSS. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1991 | Cessna 310D | Christiansburg, Virginia, United States | U.s. Air Salvage | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Danville, Virginia, United States | Eoanna K. Casey | Minor injuries | - |
| 26 May 1991 | Smith Ted Aerostar STP1 | Quinton, Virginia, United States | Walter K. Crawford, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Grumman AA-1C | Union Hall, Virginia, United States | Christopher P. Nelson | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jun 1991 | Cessna 150G | Stuart, Virginia, United States | C-150 Group Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172 | South Boston, Virginia, United States | Wings & Props Flying Club | Minor injuries | - |