Summary
On July 05, 2007, a Schempp-hirth Ventus-2C (N11YD) was involved in an accident near Bridgeport, CA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's encounter with an unfavorable wind and high sink rate conditions.
On July 5, 2007, at 1617 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C, N11YD, made an off field landing and nosed over in Bridgeport, California. The glider was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The glider was operated by the pilot. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Truckee, California, about 1330.
The pilot of a tow plane reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the pilot was considered to be extremely experienced and was familiar with the area. The tow pilot released the accident glider over the Truckee Airport, about 1,600 feet above the ground.
This accident is documented in NTSB report LAX07CA206. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N11YD.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's encounter with an unfavorable wind and high sink rate conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 5, 2007, at 1617 Pacific daylight time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C, N11YD, made an off field landing and nosed over in Bridgeport, California. The glider was substantially damaged, and the private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The glider was operated by the pilot. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Truckee, California, about 1330.
The pilot of a tow plane reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the pilot was considered to be extremely experienced and was familiar with the area. The tow pilot released the accident glider over the Truckee Airport, about 1,600 feet above the ground.
The pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that while soaring an unfavorable wind was encountered. He attempted to land at the Bridgeport airport, but upon experiencing "heavy sink," the glider touched down in rough terrain a few hundred feet short of runway 34. The glider impacted a berm.
The pilot reported that in still air his glider has a glide ratio of about 50:1. According to his data logger, on final approach during the accident flight his glide ratio had decreased to about 10:1.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX07CA206