Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-C accident near Fairfield, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1994
On June 1, 1994 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-C (glider), registered N166W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairfield, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1994 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fairfield, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-C · all VENTUS-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N166W · registry record · serial 343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER SUDDENLY PITCHED UP AS HE DESCENDED THROUGH THE 'START GATE' AT A GLIDER COMPETITION. HE ADMITTED THAT THE PITCH-UP WAS 'PROBABLY PILOT INDUCED.' HE STATED THAT HE THEN HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AND HIS HAND-HELD RADIO FELL LOOSE IN THE COCKPIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE RADIO, BUT IT BROKE THROUGH THE CANOPY. THE PILOT DECIDED TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE AFTER FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL. HE RELEASED HIMSELF FROM THE SEAT RESTRAINTS AND FELL THROUGH THE PLEXIGLASS CANOPY. HE DEPLOYED HIS PARACHUTE AND LANDED IN A TREE, AND THEN FELL FROM THE TREE ONTO THE GROUND, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES. THE UNMANNED GLIDER IMPACTED TERRAIN INVERTED AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, CANOPY, OR SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WERE FOUND.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,763 hours in all; 830 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1993; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MDT, 36 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.