Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM accident near New Castle, Virginia, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM (glider), registered N102AG, was destroyed in an accident near New Castle, Virginia (New Castle Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL MUSH. CONTRIBUTING WAS A HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CAUSING DETERIORATED AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERGROSS AIRCRAFT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Virginia · New Castle Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENUS CM
- Registration
- N102AG · no longer on the register · serial 37
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THE MOTORIZED GLIDER LIFTED, CLIMBED, AND THEN DESCENDED INTO A 45 FOOT HIGH POWERLINE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. WITNESSES STATED THE GLIDER TAKEOFF RUN WAS LONGER THAN USUAL. WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDS WERE NORMAL. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED TO BE OVER 4000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE CHARTS, THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND TOTAL DISTANCE OVER A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE WAS 1696 AND 2972 FEET RESPECTIVELY BASED ON AN ELEVATION OF 1500 FEET AND 86 DEGREE F TEMPERATURE. THE AIRFIELD ELEVATION WAS 1320 FEET, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 96 DEGREES F. THE GLIDER WAS DETERMINED TO BE ABOUT 15 LBS OVERGROSS. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,889 hours in all; 267 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1990; 196 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 948 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Solo 2350C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Children Of The Mist INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from ROA, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.