Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C accident near Midlothian, Texas, April 22, 2006
On April 22, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C (glider), registered N340TW, suffered minor damage in an accident near Midlothian, Texas (Tsa airport). It was a glider-towing 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 inadvertent deployment of the spoilers during the aero tow takeoff for undetermined reasons, resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Midlothian, Texas · Tsa
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2C · all Ventus-2Cs on the register
- Registration
- N340TW · registry record · serial 45
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 630-hour glider commercial pilot reported that prior to departure from the 4,200-feet by 400-feet wide grass-turf gliderport, he followed his checklist items which included; checking and closing the spoilers, checking the seat belts and shoulder harnesses. During the aero tow takeoff, the pilot noticed the uncommanded opening of the spoilers and he elected to release from the aero tow. During the landing on the grass runway, the glider touched down hard. The glider received minor damage to its landing gear and the pilot was seriously injured. The reason for the uncommanded extension of the spoilers could not be determined.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 630 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 301 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2006
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Midlothian TX
- Destination: Midlothian TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 165° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.