Rolladen-Schneider LS-6A N511M

Summary

On 11 June 1998 at about 18:15 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-6A registered N511M was involved in an accident near Green River, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 1998 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Green River, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Green River (U34)

Coordinates

38.9801, -110.6500

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS-6A

Registration

N511M

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Price

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA262

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Factor's were the unforecasted weather (tail wind) and the inadvertent stall/spin.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the co-owner of the glider, the pilot was given an auto-tow launch from the runway and he believed that the pilot released at approximately 700 feet agl. The co-owner observed the glider circling southwest of the runway, but was losing altitude. The pilot stated that he encountered 'heavy sink almost immediately after tow release.' The co-owner further observed the glider fly over the runway, but 'was too high too land straight ahead.' The pilot further reported that 'he turned left to return to the runway and the glider began to rotate left.' The pilot said that he 'got the right rudder in and the rotation stopped within 90 degrees.' The co-owner stated that 'an apparent wind gust from above or behind caused the glider to nose down.' The pilot stated that 'just as the rotation stopped, the left wing tip impacted the ground.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.