How many accidents has the Schempp-Hirth Ventus had?

The NTSB has recorded 37 events involving the Schempp-Hirth Ventus: 10 fatal, 11 serious, 5 minor injuries, and 11 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Schempp-Hirth Ventus a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Schempp-Hirth Ventus has 37 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Schempp-Hirth Ventus Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 37 events recorded from 1984 to 2015.

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (10 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Jun 23, 2015	Hobbs, NM	N172VC	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper compensation for gusty wind conditions which resulted in impact with terrain short of the runway.
Oct 18, 2010	Warren, VT	N188PX	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadvertent deployment of the airbrake handle past the upper limit of its normal operating range, which resulted in binding of the control… The pilot's inadvertent deployment of the airbrake handle past the upper limit of its normal operating range, which resulted in binding of the controls.
Aug 20, 2010	Madisonville, TX	N710RJ	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider while landing in a crosswind.
Jun 15, 2010	Parowan, UT	N514TW	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to see and avoid the other glider climbing in the same thermal.
Aug 04, 2007	Greensboro, VT	N60LK	Incident	substantial	The pilot's delayed decision to divert to a suitable landing area. Contributing to the accident was the uneven terrain of the forced landing site.
Aug 07, 2003	Boulder, CO	N25RN	Incident	substantial	pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making. Contributing factors include the thunderstorms, the lack of suitable terrain available for a … pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making. Contributing factors include the thunderstorms, the lack of suitable terrain available for a precautionary landing and the water.
Jul 11, 1999	HOBBS, NM	N176V	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning. Factors were the loss of thermal lift, the subsequent stall/spin, and the fence post that he impacted.
Jun 15, 1998	TAOS, NM	N94DP	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident was the sudden wind shift which rendered the aircraft uncontrollable when the aircraft was o… The pilot's improper flare. Contributing to the accident was the sudden wind shift which rendered the aircraft uncontrollable when the aircraft was on final approach to land.
Feb 23, 1998	WILLIAMS, CA	N948B	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from the oil drilling rig due to his attention being diverted inside the cockpit in order the se… The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from the oil drilling rig due to his attention being diverted inside the cockpit in order the secure the landing gear control.
Jul 02, 1991	MARFA, TX	N9999R	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE APPROACH. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, THE DOWNDRAFT, AND THE DTERIORTED CLIMB PERFORMANCE.
Jun 13, 1990	HAWTHORNE, NV	N90DM	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Schempp-Hirth Ventus Safety Record

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