Schempp-Hirth Ventus-CM accident near Benton, CA
On August 10, 2007, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-CM (glider) was involved in an accident near Benton, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 10, 2007
- Place
- Benton, CA
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Ventus-CM · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.847°N, 118.393°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070821X01223
NTSB summary
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MARCH 25, 2009." HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 10, 2007, at approximately 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-CM glider, N41BM, was destroyed upon impact with mountainous terrain in the Inyo National Forest, near Benton, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the glider, was fatally injured. The pilot/owner was operating the glider under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the round-robin cross-country flight that had originated at Minden, Nevada, at approximately 1300. No flight plan had been filed. Friends of the pilot said that five gliders departed Minden, Nevada, with the intention of flying to Keeler, California, located at the south end of the Inyo Mountains (maximum height of 11,033 feet) and returning to Minden, Nevada. In the accident pilot's last transmission to the other glider pilots, approximately 1400, he stated that he was at 16,700 feet and heading for Boundary Peak (13,070 feet), which is at the north end of the White Mountains. The accident site, which was due west of Boundary Peak by approximately 2 nautical miles, was located from the air by friends of the pilot, on August 12, 2007. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 56-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate. No personal flight logbook was located for him. Friends of the pilot said that he had been a hang glider pilot, as well as a glider pilot, for many years in California and Nevada. He bought the accident glider in April 2006. His friends stated that he was a very experienced glider pilot, and he knew
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering and the inadvertent entry into a stall/spin. Contributing to the accident were the mountainous terrain conditions, unfavorable wind conditions, and the terrain-induced turbulent wind conditions.
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Browse: California · 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.
