# NTSB NYC84LA188: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A, N245JD, Pepperell, MA, May 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 26, 1984, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Pepperell, MA
- Location: 42.0503° N, 71.8902° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MOJARR (MA09), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0503&lon=-71.8902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35666
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35666/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA188

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE GLIDER WAS ATTEMPTING A TOW-LAUNCH WHEN THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK A CLUMP OF HIGH GRASS. THE GLIDER YAWED RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH THE ASPHALT RWY, BREAKING THE FUSELAGE AND COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE GRASS WAS TOO HIGH FOR A LOW WING SAILPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N245JD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N245JD), registered now, S/N 4329, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4A
- Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-4a) (registry code 3801251) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider, amateur-built
- Serial number: 4329
- Airframe hours: 100
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Dwyer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1983, 0 hours before
- Departed: MA09, PEPPERELL, MA
- Airport: MA09, Pepperell, runway 24

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; medical: unknown, unknown; flight hours: 280 total, 79 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 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 19840526025019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840526025019A), May 26, 1984: Rolsch LS4, Pepperell, MA, Substantial damage. Wing struck a high clump of grass on takeoff tow. Released and glider ground looped.

## Other investigations on N245JD (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC94LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA155), Aug 7, 1994: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A (N245JD), Cannan, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. FACTORS WERE A LOSS OF LIFT AND THE PILOT'S IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO MANEUVER TOO…

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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