# NTSB LAX88DUQ03: Rolladen-Schneider LS-3, N75FE, Santa Ynez, CA, December 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1987, 16:00 local (Dec 27, 1987, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ynez, CA
- Coordinates: 34.640705, -120.020896 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6407&lon=-120.0209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25737
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88DUQ03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25737/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88DUQ03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER STRUCK A TREE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A LEFT TURN IN SINKING AIR. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING OVER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AT NEARBY TRAFFIC THEN TURNED TO LOOK FORWARD INTO THE HAZY SETTING SUN WHEN THE LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK A TREETOP AND CARTWHEELED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N75FE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-3
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3313
- Airframe hours: 975
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David A. Weir/Mark L. Saunders
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1987, 162 hours before
- Departed: IZA, SANTA YNEZ, CA
- Destination: IZA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 652 total, 295 in this make and model, 502 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19871226071839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871226071839A), Dec 26, 1987: Rolsch LS3, Santa Ynez, CA, Destroyed. Blinded by sun and too low and slow. Encountered a downdraft and struck a tree on a mountainside.

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.

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