Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B and Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASW 27-18 mid-air collision near Batesville, Texas, August 4, 2010
On August 4, 2010 at about 11:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B (N7470C) and Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASW 27-18 (N8829A), were involved in a mid-air collision near Batesville, Texas. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Both glider pilots’ inability to see and avoid the other resulting in a mid-air collision.
Both glider pilots' inability to see and avoid the other resulting in a mid-air collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2010 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Batesville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B · all VENTUS-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7470C · no longer on the register · serial 150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASW 27-18
- Registration
- N8829A · registry record · serial 29034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
While participating in a soaring competition, a Schempp-Hirth glider and an Alexander Schleicher glider collided while in flight. The Schempp-Hirth glider was outbound from the last way point for the competition course and the Alexander Schleicher glider was inbound to this same point. The courses inbound and outbound from this way point are near reciprocals of one another. According to the pilot of the Alexander Schleicher glider and the damage to both gliders, the empennage and tailwheel of the Schempp-Hirth glider impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Alexander Schleicher glider. The speed, altitude, and course of each glider would not have allowed enough time for either pilot to see the other glider and react with enough time to avoid a collision. An examination of the airframe and related systems of both gliders revealed no anomalies.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASW 27-18 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While participating in a soaring competition, a Schempp-Hirth glider and an Alexander Schleicher glider collided while in flight. The Schempp-Hirth glider was outbound from the last way point for the competition course and the Alexander Schleicher glider was inbound to this same point. The courses inbound and outbound from this way point are near reciprocals of one another. According to the pilot of the Alexander Schleicher glider and the damage to both gliders, the empennage and tailwheel of the Schempp-Hirth glider impacted the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Alexander Schleicher glider. The speed, altitude, and course of each glider would not have allowed enough time for either pilot to see the other glider and react with enough time to avoid a collision. An examination of the airframe and related systems of both gliders revealed no anomalies.
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 for the Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 29, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 623 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 4, 2009
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: KUVA Uvalde TX
- Destination: KUVA Uvalde TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 70,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from KHDO, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Alexander Schleicher GMBH & CO ASW 27-18 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 23 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 7, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 208 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 2010
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: KUVA Uvalde TX at 5:55 pm
- Destination: KUVA Uvalde TX
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.