HOBBS, NM, USA
N80077
Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B
The pilot had been involved in a week-long Region 9 glider competition. Witnesses reported that approximately halfway to the first check point, 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. As the pilot was flying south towards the approach end of runway 17, approximately 200 feet agl, he turned eastbound. According to witnesses at the destination airport, the pilot radioed that he was going 'to land-out.' A witness near the accident site reported that she 'heard the glider fly overhead and looked up to see it just above her house.' The witness further reported that she saw the glider fly northbound and climb to 'about 2, maybe 3 telephone poles height above the ground.' She said that the glider was 'rocking back and forth like a kite, and then it spun to the left and hit the ground.' The glider fell on some transmission wires as it impacted the ground. The Soaring Society of America's Flight Manual states that in preparation for an off-field landing, the pilot should select a specific field by 1,500 feet agl.
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 indicated that the pilot flew to Brownfield, Texas, and then turned west towards Plains, Texas. He next proceeded south, then west, then south again towards the finish line. The last 10 minutes of stored data on his memory chip indicated that he was flying directly towards the approach end of runway 17 at the destination airport. The pilot performed a 360 degree turn approximately 2 minutes before impact, but the stored data indicated that his altitude remained constant. Approximately 200 feet agl, the last stored data point indicated that the pilot had turned eastbound (the IIC determined that this last stored data point was located on the south end of a flat, non-vegetated, cultivated field). According to witnesses at the destination airport, the pilot radioed that he was going "to land-out." A witness near the accident site reported to the IIC that she "heard the glider fly overhead and looked up to see it just above her house." The witness further reported that she saw the glider fly northbound and climb to "about 2, maybe 3 telephone poles height above the ground." The witness stated that the glider was "rocking back and forth like a kite, and then it spun to the left and hit the ground." The glider fell on some transmission wires as it impacted the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to the pilot's family, he had owned two previous gliders: a PIK-20 and a Ventus-II. The pilot's father reported that the pilot purchased the accident glider in early August 1996. The pilot's son reported to the IIC that the pilot had approximately 439 hours in gliders, and approximately 17,000 hours total flight time. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The glider was built in Germany in 1995 and was given an Airworthiness Certificate for an experimental aircraft. It was approved for exhibition operations in the 15 meters racing class and had a maximum lift/drag ratio of 46:1 at 50 knots. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather observation at 1748 for Lea County Airport (Hobbs, New Mexico) was: wind 130 degrees at 20 knots, visibility 25 statute miles, cloud condition 5,000 feet scattered and 15,000 broken, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 61 degrees Fahrenheit, and the altimeter setting 30.01 inches. Witnesses at Hobbs Industrial Airpark (the destination airport) reported to the IIC that wind at the time of the accident was approximately 170 degrees for 18 knots with gusts to 26 knots. Race officials reported to the IIC that weather conditions for glider flying on the day of the race were "marginal" due to lift conditions. Several pilots who were in the race reported to the IIC that lift conditions "deteriorated" during the race due to a weather system (including a low level cloud condition) which moved in from the northeast. AIDS TO NAVIGATION & FLIGHT RECORDERS The glider was equipped with a GPS navigational system which had a memory storage capability to retain the entire flight (ground track and altitude). See the attached flight records. WRECKAGE IMPACT INFORMATION The glider was found upright and partially suspended above the ground in transmission wires with a longitudinal axis orientation of approximately 170 degrees. The cockpit area of the glider was crushed (note the crush line in the photograph) and the fuselage was broken into two parts at the main landing wheel (the two parts were still attached). Both wing spars were broken outboard of their respective spoilers and the empennage was broken from the fuselage, but not separated, from the aircraft. The landing gear was found down, the spoilers were out, and the flaps were found in the plus 2 position. All parts and components of the glider were accounted for. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsy and toxicological tests were ordered and performed. The autopsy was done by the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator at Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 7, 1997. Toxicology test results were negative. ADDITIONAL DATA The Soaring Society of America's Private/Commercial Flight Manual (see attached document) states that in preparation for an off-field landing by a pilot, "any time the sailplane descends to approximately 3,000 feet agl, it is time to begin a serious search for a suitable area." The manual further states that "by 1,500 feet, a specific field should be selected." Several glider pilot instructors reported to the IIC that "normal" traffic pattern entry should be performed at 1,000 feet agl or higher. The aircraft was released to the owner's representative on July 24, 1997.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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