Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B and Cessna 305A accident near Winter Haven, Florida, May 7, 1985
On May 7, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B (N40EE) and Cessna 305A (N54550), were involved in the same accident near Winter Haven, Florida (Winter Haven airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winter Haven, Florida · Winter Haven · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B · all VENTUS-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N40EE · registry record · serial 110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N54550 · registry record · serial JV5
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS B, N40EE, WAS POSITIONED ON RWY 29 TO BE TOWED ON A COMPETITION GLIDER FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT OF THE GLIDER. THE WIND WAS FROM 030 DEG AT 8 KTS. AS THE TAKEOFF COMMENCED, THE GLIDER WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RWY, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING, THEN THE GLIDER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, BUT THE GLIDER CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 305A, N54550, THAT WAS RETURNING FROM ITS 4TH TOW MISSION & WAS TAXIING ABOUT 75 FT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY.
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 Cessna 305A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SCHEMPP-HIRTH VENTUS B, N40EE, WAS POSITIONED ON RWY 29 TO BE TOWED ON A COMPETITION GLIDER FLT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT BEFORE STARTING HIS TAKEOFF, THE TOW PLANE WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT OF THE GLIDER. THE WIND WAS FROM 030 DEG AT 8 KTS. AS THE TAKEOFF COMMENCED, THE GLIDER WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE GLIDER'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RWY, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING, THEN THE GLIDER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE GLIDER PLT RELEASED THE TOW LINE, BUT THE GLIDER CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY, SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 305A, N54550, THAT WAS RETURNING FROM ITS 4TH TOW MISSION & WAS TAXIING ABOUT 75 FT TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY.
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-B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,564 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1984; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GIF at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from BOW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 305A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,960 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2,407 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GIF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
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.