# NTSB ERA13CA420: Rolladen-Schneider LS 6, N650DP, Sussex, NJ, September 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2013, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Sussex, NJ - Coordinates: 41.2425, -74.638885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2425&lon=-74.6389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA420 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA420 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper selection of an off-airport landing site, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during a crosswind landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3801260), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=3801260), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801260), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3801260), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was aloft over a ridge for 4 hours before the glider experienced a loss of thermal lift. He departed the ridge to the lee side towards a valley with fields in which he intended to land. While on final approach for landing, the glider's upwind wing encountered a gust of wind and subsequently impacted a row of trees before coming to rest in a field; resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or anomalies of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident may have been avoided had he remained within gliding distance of a landing site upwind of the ridge in order to avoid lee-side turbulence and sink. The pilot further stated that he overflew several adequate landing sites, but chose to continue in hopes of reaching an airport or a field further from the ridge. As a result, the glider lost altitude and airspeed, which left it "vulnerable to strong gusts." ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was aloft over a ridge for 4 hours before the glider experienced a loss of thermal lift. He departed the ridge to the lee side towards a valley with fields in which he intended to land. While on final approach for landing, the glider's upwind wing encountered a gust of wind and subsequently impacted a row of trees before coming to rest in a field; resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or anomalies of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident may have been avoided had he remained within gliding distance of a landing site upwind of the ridge in order to avoid lee-side turbulence and sink. The pilot further stated that he overflew several adequate landing sites, but chose to continue in hopes of reaching an airport or a field further from the ridge. As a result, the glider lost altitude and airspeed, which left it "vulnerable to strong gusts." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N650DP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N650DP), registered now, S/N 6054 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS 6 (C) - Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-6) (registry code 3801260) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 6054 - Airframe hours: 1221 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dunning Robert L - Registered owner: Dunning Robert L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 2013 - Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ - Destination: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private; last flight review June 15, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 898 total, 76 in this make and model, 858 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: FWN, 3 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 20130913022199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130913022199A), Sep 13, 2013: Rolladen-Schneider LS-6, Sussex, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed blairstown airport (1N7), and was ridge soaring for 4 hours. Glider got low on ridge. Pilot decided to leave ridge and head for a known… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88086. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 726 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Glider as it came to rest (Courtesy of pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Glider%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Front of glider (Courtesy of pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407698&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Front%20of%20glider%20(Courtesy%20of%20pilot)-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.