- Date
- July 14, 1998, 17:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place
- Salina, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N41MNRolladen-Schneider LS 4A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980714030929A
- Case key
- 43256
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to conduct a landing. Contributing was the loss of thermal lift and high vegetation.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot intended to fly from Parowan, Utah, to Payson, Utah, and return (a distance of approximately 300 miles). He was towed to an altitude of 7,500 feet msl (1,500 feet agl), and climbed in thermals and reached an altitude of 17,000 feet. At a point south of Salina, lift conditions deteriorated and he encountered sink. He selected a field 6 miles south of Salina in which to land. After touching down, he noticed an obstacle in the path of the left wing. He attempted to pull up and away from the obstacle but in doing so, the right wing contacted foliage, causing the glider to ground loop to the right.
Factual narrative
On July 14, 1998, approximately 1755 mountain daylight time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A, N41MN, was substantially damaged during landing roll in an open field near Salina, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant onboard, was uninjured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Parowan, Utah, approximately 1420.
According the pilot's accident report, it was his intention to fly from Parowan, Utah, to Payson, Utah, and return (a distance of approximately 300 miles). He was towed to an altitude of 7,500 feet msl (1,500 feet agl), and climbed in thermals and reached an altitude of 17,000 feet. He flew east to Panguitch, north to Pfeiler, Junction, and Richfield, then towards Salina. He said that when he reached a point south of Salina, lift conditions deteriorated and he encountered sink. He realized he would be unable to glide to the Salina-Gunnison Airport, so he selected a field 6 miles south in which to land. After touching down, he noticed an obstacle in the path of the left wing. He attempted to pull up and away from the obstacle but in doing so, the right wing contacted foliage, causing the glider to ground loop to the right.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N41MN
- Reported as
- Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 4439
- Airframe hours
- 528
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul A. Gaechter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 14, 1997 · 53 hours before
- Departed
- 1L9 · Parowan, UT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Certificate
- Private
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 228 total · 148 in this make and model · 172 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.