Summary
On September 13, 2013, a Rolladen-schneider LS 6 (N650DP) was involved in an accident near Sussex, NJ. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper selection of an off-airport landing site, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during a crosswind landing in gusty wind conditions.
The pilot stated that he was aloft over a ridge for 4 hours before the glider experienced a loss of thermal lift. He departed the ridge to the lee side towards a valley with fields in which he intended to land. While on final approach for landing, the glider's upwind wing encountered a gust of wind and subsequently impacted a row of trees before coming to rest in a field; resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or anomalies of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident may have been avoided had he remained within gliding distance of a landing site upwind of the ridge in order to avoid lee-side turbulence and sink.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA13CA420. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N650DP.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper selection of an off-airport landing site, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during a crosswind landing in gusty wind conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was aloft over a ridge for 4 hours before the glider experienced a loss of thermal lift. He departed the ridge to the lee side towards a valley with fields in which he intended to land. While on final approach for landing, the glider's upwind wing encountered a gust of wind and subsequently impacted a row of trees before coming to rest in a field; resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or anomalies of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident may have been avoided had he remained within gliding distance of a landing site upwind of the ridge in order to avoid lee-side turbulence and sink. The pilot further stated that he overflew several adequate landing sites, but chose to continue in hopes of reaching an airport or a field further from the ridge. As a result, the glider lost altitude and airspeed, which left it "vulnerable to strong gusts."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA420