# NTSB GAA16CA261: Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3, N63761, Blairstown, NJ, May 25, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2016, 13:36 local (17:36 UTC) - Place: Blairstown, NJ - Coordinates: 41.310001, -74.5625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3100&lon=-74.5625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA261 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA261 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees on final. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): 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/01062012/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen-Schneider OHG LS3-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=3801214), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [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: 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) ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to a cross-country glider flight, his preflight weather assessment led him to believe that he would find thermal lift near the ridge enabling him to climb. He reported that when he arrived at the ridge he did not find any thermal lift activity and his circumstance seemed "urgent and imperative" to find an off airport landing area. He recalled that very high trees outlined the 300 meter field where he elected to land. He reported that he made two descending, spiraling patterns over his selected landing site. He recalled that he made a final turn into the field, however the glider's outboard left wing struck several trees and spun the glider counter-clockwise and it impacted the ground. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the left wing and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the glider during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, prior to a cross-country glider flight, his preflight weather assessment led him to believe that he would find thermal lift near the ridge enabling him to climb. He reported that when he arrived at the ridge he did not find any thermal lift activity and his circumstance seemed "urgent and imperative" to find an off airport landing area. He recalled that very high trees outlined the 300 meter field where he elected to land. He reported that he made two descending, spiraling patterns over his selected landing site. He recalled that he made a final turn into the field, however the glider's outboard left wing struck several trees and spun the glider counter-clockwise and it impacted the ground. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the left wing and canopy. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the glider during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63761](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63761), registered now, S/N 3286 (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: 3286 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 2223 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2016 - Departed: K1N7, Blairstown, NJ - Destination: K1N7, Blairstown, NJ - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; last flight review September 19, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 200 total, 18 in this make and model, 150 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KFWN, 7 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 20160525008039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160525008039A), May 25, 2016: Rolladen-Schneider Ohg LS3-A, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot departed in glider from Blairstown Airport (1N7), Blairstown, NJ around 1300 local time. Pilot released the tow, crossed over (1N7), and turned north to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93249. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.