# NTSB BFO91LA084: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A, N7LR, Clifton Forge, VA, September 16, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 16, 1991, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place: Clifton Forge, VA
- Location: 37.8233° N, 79.8252° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clifton Forge, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8233&lon=-79.8252&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11706
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11706/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA084

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE, DISTANCE AND SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN LANDING OVERSHOOT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, landing
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE FLIGHT AFTER SHE RAN OUT OF THERMAL LIFT, SO SHE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD, SHE TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL TOO SOON AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS TOO HIGH. THE FIELD WAS OVERSHOT DURING THE LANDING AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD SHE TURNED FROM BASE TO FINAL TOO SOON AND CONSEQUENTLY WAS TOO HIGH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7LR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7LR), registered now, S/N 4087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A
- Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-4a) (registry code 3801251) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 4087
- Airframe hours: 398
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Amanda S. Pratt
- Registered owner: Amanda S. Pratt
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1991, 16 hours before
- Departed: NEW CASTLE, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; seat: center; flight hours: 261 total, 163 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910916040079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910916040079A), Sep 16, 1991: Rolsch LS4, Clifton Forge, VA, Substantial damage. Ran out of lift on crosscountry flight. Turned too soon into a field and overshot. Put glider in trees to stop.

## Other investigations on N7LR (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 WPR19LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA181), Jun 29, 2019: Rolladen Schneider LS4 (N7LR), Moriarty, NM, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight cardiac event which necessitated an emergency landing, and which the pilot succumbed to.

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.

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