Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 accident near Warren, Vermont, October 18, 2010
On October 18, 2010 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 (glider), registered N188PX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Warren, Vermont (Warren-Sugarbush Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent deployment of the airbrake handle past the upper limit of its normal operating range, which resulted in binding of the controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2010 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Vermont · Warren-Sugarbush Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS B/16.6 · all VENTUS B/16.6s on the register
- Registration
- N188PX · no longer on the register · serial 299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the descent back to the airport, he used the glider's airbrakes several times without difficulty. While maneuvering on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, he deployed the airbrakes in order to counteract lift. Approaching the base leg of the pattern, the glider flew out of the lifting air, encountered a strong downdraft, and the pilot inadvertently pulled the handle through the upper limit of its range where it jammed. The pilot then tried, unsuccessfully, to retract the dive brakes, concluded that he could not reach the airport, and selected a field south of the airport for an off-airport landing. The glider collided with trees short of the field, and came to rest suspended in the trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed that the airbrake controls would bind if operated past the upper limit of their normal operating range. However, by rotating the handle into the downward position, the controls would move freely. Further examination revealed that the airbrake control tube and the guide tubes were not lubricated. Although the lack of lubrication hindered the movement of the airbrake, it did not completely bind the controls. A review of the glider's maintenance manual revealed that it required all control circuits and hinges pertaining to the airbrake system be lubricated, but did not specifically state what type of lubrication was needed or the specific parts that needed lubrication.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Spoilers › Inoperative
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,200 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,297.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2010
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 0B7 Warren VT at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 0B7 Warren VT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; ovct at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from MPV, 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11LA025.