No fatalities

3 Jul 2018: Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS No Series — Throttle Up Inc — Pomfret, VT

Pomfret, VT, United States

On 3 Jul 2018, a Schempp Hirth DISCUS CS No Series operated by Throttle Up Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Pomfret, VT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The glider pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a collision with a ditch during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 10 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a glider competition, the pilot encountered a weak frontal system and had about 15 minutes of flight remaining. He performed a full stall landing in a large field, but during the roll on downsloping terrain at about 40 knots, the glider hit a ditch, causing substantial damage to the tailboom.

Incident Overview

A glider pilot participating in a competition reported encountering a weak frontal system, which resulted in insufficient lift to sustain flight. The pilot determined he had approximately 15 minutes of flying time before the glider would need to land. He selected a large field and established a traffic pattern to execute a landing.

Landing and Collision

The pilot accomplished a full stall landing. However, during the landing roll on terrain that sloped downward, the glider was traveling at about 40 knots when it collided with a ditch. The impact caused substantial damage to the glider's tailboom.

Post-Accident Report

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. No further details about the cause of the accident were provided by the pilot.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation