Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO ASH 26 E and Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT mid-air collision near Parowan, Utah, June 15, 2010
On June 15, 2010 at about 9:33 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO ASH 26 E (N455S) and Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT (N514TW), were involved in a mid-air collision near Parowan, Utah. 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 pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal.
The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2010 · about 9:33 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Parowan, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO ASH 26 E · all ASH 26 Es on the register
- Registration
- N455S · registry record · serial 26183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT · all VENTUS 2CTs on the register
- Registration
- N514TW · registry record · serial 191
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO ASH 26 E final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two glider pilots had entered the same thermal while participating in a competition task that required them to fly to a point about 90 miles from their point of departure and then to return. Both pilots where flying back to the point of departure after reaching the turnaround point when they entered the thermal. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of one of the gliders and the nose of other glider came in contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the wing of one glider and the denting of the lower nose area of the other. The pilots of both gliders were able to return to the point of departure, where they both completed uneventful landings. Neither pilot had seen the other glider as he entered the thermal.
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 Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two glider pilots had entered the same thermal while participating in a competition task that required them to fly to a point about 90 miles from their point of departure and then to return. Both pilots where flying back to the point of departure after reaching the turnaround point when they entered the thermal. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of one of the gliders and the nose of other glider came in contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the wing of one glider and the denting of the lower nose area of the other. The pilots of both gliders were able to return to the point of departure, where they both completed uneventful landings. Neither pilot had seen the other glider as he entered the thermal.
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 Schleicher Alexander GMBH & CO ASH 26 E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,208 hours in all; 1,208 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 25, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,209 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Midwest Engines AE50RAB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L9 Parowan UT at 8:03 pm
- Destination: 1L9 Parowan UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schempp-Hirth VENTUS 2CT from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,279 hours in all; 680 in this make and model; 7,250 as pilot in command; 382 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 24, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 694 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 15, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Solo 2350 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L9 Parowan UT at 7:44 pm
- Destination: 1L9 Parowan UT
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N455S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & Co ASH 26 26 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- N514TW on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schempp-Hirth VENTUS-2 70 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schempp-Hirth 516 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Midwest Engines AE50RAB · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Solo 2350 41 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Parowan Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Utah 1,440 since 1982 · 264 in the last ten years
- Utah 8,357 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10LA294.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.