# NTSB CEN12CA608: Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, N27UP, Navasota, TX, September 3, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2012, 16:22 local (21:22 UTC) - Place: Navasota, TX - Coordinates: 30.269721, -95.967224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2697&lon=-95.9672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA608 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA608 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for landing area conditions during an off-airport landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that he was about 5 miles from his destination airport and had enough altitude to make the field, but encountered sink and was unable to find additional lift. The pilot decided to conduct an off-field landing in a large open grass field. During the landing, the right wing tip hit the tall grass, which resulted in a ground loop when the glider was still several feet above ground. The nose yawed to the right and the glider impacted the terrain nose first. The wings, fuselage, and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had focused more on his choice of a landing spot and that he should have avoided landing in a field with tall grass. However, the pilot was likely unable to recognize the height of the grass in the field until the glider was low to the ground, and he selected the best possible landing site given what he knew at the time of the loss of lift. ## Factual narrative The glider pilot reported he was about five miles from his destination airport and had enough altitude to make the field, but encountered sink and was unable to find additional lift. The pilot decided on an off field landing in a large open grass field. During the landing the right wing tip hit the tall grass which resulted in a ground loop when glider was still several feet above ground. The nose yawed to the right and the glider impacted terrain nose first. The wings, fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot added that the accident could have been avoided if he had focused more on his choice of a landing spot and that he should have avoided landing in a field with tall grass. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27UP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27UP-2020-03-02), registration cancelled 2020-03-02, S/N 3280 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER OHG LS3-A - Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ohg-ls3-a) (registry code 3801214) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3280 - Airframe hours: 1101 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 2012 - Departed: 87TA, Waller, TX - Destination: 87TA, Waller, TX - Airport: 89TA, Soaring Club of Houston Glider ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; last flight review February 26, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 430 total, 368 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KCLL, 24 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84940. 261 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Initial Statement (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Initial%20Statement-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.