Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A accident near Middletown, New York, August 24, 1986
On August 24, 1986 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A (glider), registered N7XT, was destroyed in an accident near Middletown, New York (Randall airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1986 · about 6:05 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Middletown, New York · Randall · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A · all VENTUS As on the register
- Registration
- N7XT · registry record · serial 84
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SAILPLANE WAS BEING TOWED INTO THE AIR. IT WAS OBSERVED TO COME OFF THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE AND THEN START PORPOSING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE AND IMPACTED. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CARRYING BOTH WATER AND LEAD SHOT FOR BALLAST, HOWEVER THE BREAKUP OF THE AIRCRAFT ON IMPACT PREVENTED A DETERMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED OR AVAILABLE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 948 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06N Middletown NY at 6:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7XT on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS A 5 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- Engine: None NONE · as the NTSB recorded it
- Randall Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New York 1,964 since 1982 · 249 in the last ten years
- New York 6,663 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC86FHM03.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.