Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A N47JD

Summary

On 23 July 2008 at about 17:25 local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A registered N47JD, operated by Richard Johnson, was involved in an accident near Midlothian, Texas, 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

23 July 2008 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Midlothian, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Texas Soaring Assoc Gliderport (TA11)

Coordinates

32.3511, -97.0033

Aircraft

Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A

Registration

N47JD

Category

Glider

Operator

Richard Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

TSA Gliderport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN08LA127

1 person died.

The pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an incapacitating cardiac event. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's poor decision to fly with known serious medical issues.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses to the accident said the glider appeared to be flying normally when it suddenly pitched up and down, then flew into the ground. This was substantiated by flight data from an onboard recorder. The pilot was fatally injured and portions of the glider's wings and empennage were seperated from the fuselage. The pilot was an 11 time national soaring champion with approximately 50 years experience flying gliders and airplanes. The pilot had very recent symptoms, recent test results, and autopsy findings consistent with serious coronary artery disease. He also had abnormal rhythms on ECG monitoring that would have likely increased his risk of sudden death. The pilot was in the process of scheduling a cardiac catheterization and possible angioplasty. He may have been impaired or incapacitated by pain, an abnormal heart rhythm, or sudden cardiac death. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with an abrupt physical inability to continue controlling the aircraft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.