# Accident 20030713027629A: Rolsch LS4, Ashburnham, MA, July 13, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 13, 2003, 15:52 local time
- Place: Ashburnham, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6353° N, 71.9081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6353&lon=-71.9081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N130MD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROLSCH LS4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 104 total, 30 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC03CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA157) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030713027629A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON JULY 13, 2003 AT 19:52 GMT, A ROLLANDEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 GLIDER, N130MD, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE TREES IN ASHBURNHAM, MA. THE PILOT, MR. HARRY WILLIAM DETRICH RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. MR. DETRICH WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM STERLING, MA TO JEFFREY, NH (MONADNOCK MOUNTAIN AREA) AND WAS ON THE RETURN LEG TO STERLING, MA WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THERMAL ACTIVITY CAUSING HIM TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC03CA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA157), Jul 13, 2003: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 (N130MD), Ashburnham, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to over fly a suitable landing area. Factors in this accident were weak thermal lift activity, and lack of suitable terrain at the time of the landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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