Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CM accident near St. Elmo, Alabama, August 8, 2009
On August 8, 2009 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CM (glider), registered N70ZZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near St. Elmo, Alabama (St Elmo Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2009 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- St. Elmo, Alabama · St Elmo Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CM · all VENTUS 2CMs on the register
- Registration
- N70ZZ · registry record · serial 100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a powered glider experienced a partial loss of engine power on takeoff and landed hard while attempting a go around. During the preflight inspection and engine run-up, the pilot saw nothing abnormal that would have suggested a problem with the engine. After the accident, the pilot removed the powered glider wreckage from the accident site before the FAA inspector could inspect it. Approximately 3 months later, the powered glider was examined by an independent airframe and powerplant mechanic, and no definitive evidence was found that would have caused the partial loss of engine power. The inspection did reveal damage to the cylinder walls, but it was not possible to correlate this with the partial loss of engine power due to the engine being previously disassembled and examined by the owner.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 406 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 388 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 4, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,120 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Solo 2625-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2R5 St. Elmo AL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 2R5 St. Elmo AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,998 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from MOB, 12 miles away
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.