# NTSB ERA11CA206: Rolladen-Schneider LS-3, N1359, Winchester, TN, March 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2011, 13:51 local (18:51 UTC) - Place: Winchester, TN - Coordinates: 35.096389, -86.099166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0964&lon=-86.0992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78670 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78670/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78670 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA206 ## Probable cause The glider pilot's delayed response to changing weather conditions, which resulted in an off-airport landing into trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3801213), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801213), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the glider pilot, he was participating in a 500-kilometer event when he failed to notice that the weather deteriorated, with overcast skies that prevented the sun from heating the ground and creating the thermal lift he required. He further stated that the glider was too far from a mountain to benefit from mechanical lift, and he was forced to perform a landing into unsuitable terrain. In an effort to cushion the landing, the pilot landed into pine trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. He reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative According to the glider pilot, he was participating in a 500-kilometer event when he failed to notice that the cloud streets he was flying beneath deteriorated to a 100 percent overcast, and the sun was no longer heating the ground and creating the thermal lifting he required. He further stated that the glider was too far from a mountain to benefit from mechanical lift, and he was forced to perform a forced landing into unsuitable terrain. In an effort to cushion the landing, the pilot landed into pine trees which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. He reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1359](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1359-2012-05-25), registration cancelled 2012-05-25, S/N 3033, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER GMBH LS-3 - Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-3) (registry code 3801213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 3033 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ruegger Rebecca M - Registered owner: Ruegger Rebecca M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: APT, Jasper, TN - Destination: APT, Jasper, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; foreign, private; last flight review April 10, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 1,057 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Observed at: HSV, 50 nm away ## 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 20110324007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110324007229A), Mar 24, 2011: Rolladen-Schneider Gmbh LS-3, Belvidere, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot lost lift on ridge and was making an emergency landing, hit tree. Aircraft was severed into behind pilot seat. Pilot suffered a broken back and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78670. 2.3 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120 Memorandum for Record (item 1, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352884&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352873&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF - HSV Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352875&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=HSV%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Damaged Glider (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Damaged%20Glider%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.