# NTSB WPR25LA177: Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, N78AW, Tonasket, WA, June 11, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 11, 2025, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Tonasket, WA
- Coordinates: 48.750537, -118.99591
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7505&lon=-118.9959&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200333/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200333
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA177

## Probable cause

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=05621L6), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05621L6), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05621L6), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05621L6), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05621L6), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot in the glider, during a cross-country flight, promising cloud formations did not provide lift, as he anticipated. The glider did not have sufficient altitude to reach the airport, and a forced landing ensued. During the landing roll, the glider’s wingtip contacted the gravel surface and precipitated a ground-loop. The glider sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78AW), registered now, S/N 7059, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROLLADEN SCHNEIDER LS-7WL
- Registry model: [Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-7wl) (registry code 05621L6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 7059
- Year built: 1989
- Airframe hours: 1394.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2025
- Departed: S52, Winthrop, WA
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,300 total, 74 in this make and model, 1,275 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observed at: KOMK, 27 nm away
- METAR: KOMK 112353Z AUTO 21009KT 10SM CLR 33/06 A2970 RMK AO2 SLP048 T03330056 10339 20283 58011

## 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 20250611007669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250611007669A), Jun 11, 2025: Rolladen Schneider LS-7WL, Tonasket, WA, Substantial damage. Glider lost lift.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200333. 2.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18916121&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18916359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph-Rel.pdf

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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