Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 N36LB

Summary

On 26 October 2007 at about 19:40 local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 registered N36LB was involved in an accident near Salida, Colorado, 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.

Date

26 October 2007 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Salida, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.4508, -106.0175

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6

Registration

N36LB

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salida → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN08LA017

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider was towed by an airplane to an altitude of 11,800 feet mean sea level (msl) approximately 7 miles south of the departure airport. The glider was released from the tow airplane, and the tow airplane returned to the airport to tow another glider to join the accident glider. Approximately 15 minutes later when the tow airplane returned with the other glider, the tow airplane and other glider attempted to contact the accident glider via radio. The attempts to contact the accident glider were unsuccessful. The glider was located in mountainous tree-covered terrain the next day. The weather at the time of the accident was reported as clear sky and light winds. Examination of the glider wreckage revealed the damage was consistent with a nose-low, vertical impact. No anomalies were noted with glider that would have precluded normal operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.