None Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Corona, New Mexico 88318
Saturday, June 1, 2013 18:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was ridge-soaring in his glider near a mountain peak in gusty wind conditions, when he was blown into trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the airframe and wings. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the glider. He said that he was unfamiliar with the terrain and the wind gusts and down-drafts were higher than he anticipated.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while ridge-soaring in gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Corona
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 88318
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 345825N
Event Location Longitude 1055935W
Event Location Airport None
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31623
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 9 2013 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62TW
NTSB Number CEN13CA336
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHEMPP-HIRTH
Aircraft Model VENTUS-2B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 140
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 2 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAYNTER G FRANK
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GROVE CITY
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43123-9181
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PAYNTER G FRANK
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GROVE CITY
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 43123-9181
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 0E0
Departure City Moriarty
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0E0
Destination City Moriarty
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 9 2013 12:10PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --