Incident
On June 15, 2010, at 1533 mountain daylight time, a Schleicher Alexander GMBD ASH 26E glider (N455S) and a Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2CT glider (N514TW) were involved in a mid-air collision approximately 75 miles northeast of Parowan, Utah. Both aircraft were operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. Neither pilot reported any injuries, and both were the sole occupants of their respective gliders.
Flight Details
Both gliders had departed from Parowan, Utah, earlier that day—N455S at 1403 and N514TW at 1344. They were participating in a glider competition task that required departure from a point near Parowan, flying to a turnaround point about 90 miles northeast, and then returning to Parowan for landing. No flight plan had been filed for either aircraft.
Collision
According to both pilots, after reaching the turnaround point, they were flying back to Parowan when they entered the same thermal and began to climb. During their first full turn in the thermal, the left wing of the ASH 26E and the nose of the Ventus 2CT came into contact. The impact resulted in the separation of the outboard three feet of the ASH 26E's left wing and denting of the lower nose area of the Ventus 2CT.
Aftermath
Despite the damage, both pilots were able to return to Parowan and complete uneventful landings. The ASH 26E sustained substantial damage, while the Ventus 2CT sustained minor damage. Both pilots stated that they had not seen the other glider as they entered the thermal, and both acknowledged that it was their responsibility to see and avoid other gliders climbing in the same thermal.
Damage Assessment
The ASH 26E's left wing suffered a separation of the outboard three feet. The Ventus 2CT's lower nose area was dented. No further damage details were reported.