# NTSB NYC94LA155: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A, N245JD, Cannan, NH, August 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1994, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cannan, NH - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA155 ## 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 CLOSE TO THE RIDGE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE GLIDER PILOT HAD JUST RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE. HE STARTED A LEFT CIRCLING CLIMB IN A THERMAL. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER CIRCLING ONCE, THE LIFT CHANGED SUDDENLY. THE GLIDER SANK ABRUPTLY. THE PILOT, IN HIS ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE RIDGE INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. THE PILOT STATED THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD HE NOT ESTABLISHED THE THERMAL CIRCLE SO CLOSE TO THE RIDGE. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 1994 at 1400 eastern daylight time, N245JD, a Rolladen-Schnieder LS-4A glider, collided with trees on high terrain, in Franconia, New Hampshire. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The glider was substantially damaged. The departure point was Franconia. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. Shortly after the pilot released from the towplane, he circled in a thermal southwest of the peak of Cannon Mountain. According to the pilot, "I started to thermal in a counter-clockwise circle. As I came around one rotation, the lift changed to sink abruptly." The pilot then lowered the nose of the aircraft and steepened the turn to avoid the ridge; however, the glider stalled, descended, and impacted trees on the ridge. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented had he not established the thermal circle so close to the ridge, causing him to be unable to adequately maneuver in (south west blowing) air. ## 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 - Serial number: 4329 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James L. Dwyer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 1993, 50 hours before - Departed: 1B5, FRANCONIA, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,266 total, 994 in this make and model, 1,198 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940807020339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940807020339A), Aug 7, 1994: Rolsch LS4, Cannan, NH, Substantial damage. Circling in thermal near ridge. Lost thermal. Entered high sink rate. Stalled avoiding ridge. Dropped into trees. ## 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 NYC84LA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA188), May 26, 1984: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A (N245JD), Pepperell, MA, substantial damage 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.