Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B accident near Hobbs, NM
On July 5, 1997, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B (glider) was involved in an accident near Hobbs, NM. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 5, 1997
- Place
- Hobbs, NM
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.729°N, 103.161°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08353
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 5, 1997, approximately 1722 mountain daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B glider, N80077, was destroyed following a loss of control during the approach to an off airport landing near Hobbs, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the glider, was fatally injured. The glider was being operated by the owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country competition flight that departed Hobbs Industrial Airpark approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot was involved in a week long Region 9 glider competition. Witnesses at the airpark reported to the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) that this was the pilot's first entry into a regional event, although he had reportedly competed at the local level many times. The first day for practice flights was on June 29, 1997, and the competition flights began on June 30, 1997. Witnesses reported to the IIC that the pilot flew every day during the competition. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed at 1307 and crossed the starting gate at 5,000 feet agl approximately 20 minutes later. Witnesses reported to the IIC that approximately halfway to the first check point at Brownfield, Texas, a "low cloud deck moved in from the northeast, reducing the available lift." Witnesses stated that the "weather deteriorated to such a degree that 20 of the 38 competing gliders landed-out, and were unable to return to the finish line at Hobbs, New Mexico. The memory chip in the pilot's GPS navigational system indi
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to select an off-field landing site with sufficient time/altitude to perform the landing which led to his failure to maintain airspeed. A factor was the unfavorable wind.
More accidents in NM
- Gates Learjet 25D, Sep 5, 1993
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Browse: New Mexico · Schempp-Hirth aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
