# NTSB NYC03CA157: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4, N130MD, Ashburnham, MA, July 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2003, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Ashburnham, MA - Coordinates: 42.635276, -71.908058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6353&lon=-71.9081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 57454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03CA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03CA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight decision to over fly a suitable landing area. Factors in this accident were weak thermal lift activity, and lack of suitable terrain at the time of the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis During a glider flight, the pilot was over an airport about 30 miles from his intended destination airport, at an altitude of about 1,160 feet above the ground. The pilot overheard radio communications between other glider pilots in the area who indicated that conditions were "tougher" than they expected. The pilot elected to attempt to reach his destination airport; however, he was not able to locate adequate thermal activity to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to divert to another airport; however, the glider continued to descend and he attempted a landing to a gravel pit. While on approach, the glider impacted trees and struck the ground. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2003, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 glider, N130MD, was substantially damaged during an off airport landing in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Sterling Airport, Sterling, Massachusetts. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he departed Sterling, and flew in the vicinity of the Jaffrey Airport, Jaffrey, New Hampshire. He attained an altitude of 4,000 feet msl, near Mount Monadnock, and "spent some altitude while sightseeing." The pilot arrived over the Jaffrey Airport, at an altitude of 2,200 feet msl. The pilot overheard radio communications between other glider pilots in the area who indicated that conditions were "tougher" than they expected. The pilot further stated: "Since I had little cross-country experience, I was somewhat concerned by this report. Assuming that I'd encounter lift equivalent to that on my outbound flight, I decided to depart for Sterling, rather than land at Jaffrey (field elevation 1,040 msl). Since I was at pattern altitude for Jaffrey, this was clearly my critical error/misjudgment. I flew south, searching for thermals. Those that I encountered were weak and broken, so that I was gradually losing altitude...." The pilot attempted to divert to the Gardner Municipal Airport, Gardner, Massachusetts; however, the glider continued to descend and the pilot elected to attempt a landing to a gravel pit. While on approach, the glider impacted trees and struck the ground. The Jaffrey Airport was located about 30 statue miles north-northwest of the Sterling Airport. The pilot reported about 104 hours of total glider fight experience, which included about 29 hours in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: N130MD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 41039 - Airframe hours: 115 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William H. Detrich - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2003, 95 hours before - Departed: 3B3, STERLING, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; last flight review November 14, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 104 total, 29 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FIT, 10 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 20030713027629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030713027629A), Jul 13, 2003: Rolsch LS4, Ashburnham, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 13, 2003 at 19:52 gmt, a rollanden-schneider LS-4 glider, N130MD, received substantial damage when it crashed into the trees in Ashburnham, MA.… 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.