# NTSB LAX90LA212: Rolladen-Schneider LS-3A, N116TD, Vacaville, CA, June 9, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1990, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Vacaville, CA
- Location: 38.3586° N, 121.9686° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vacaville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3586&lon=-121.9686&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26834/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA212

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - stall/spin (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER APPEARED TO BE WORKING THERMALS ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER ENTERED A STALL THEN A SPIN. THE SPIN WAS REPORTED TO CONTINUE TO GROUND IMPACT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N116TD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N116TD-2013-11-01), registration cancelled 2013-11-01, S/N 3398, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rolladen-Schneider LS-3A
- 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: 3398
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fredrick W. Frauens
- Registered owner: Fredrick W. Frauens
- Departed: CA58
- Destination: CA58

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; medical: unknown, unknown; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 55 °F

## 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 19900609019279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900609019279A), Jun 9, 1990: Rolsch LS3A, Vacaville, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. While thermaling stalled and entered a spin until ground impact.

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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