Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A N41MN

Summary

On 14 July 1998 at about 23:55 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A registered N41MN was involved in an accident near Salina, Utah, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 1998 at 23:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Salina, Utah, United States

Coordinates

38.9496, -111.8306

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS 4A

Registration

N41MN

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Parowan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA326

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to conduct a landing. Contributing was the loss of thermal lift and high vegetation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot intended to fly from Parowan, Utah, to Payson, Utah, and return (a distance of approximately 300 miles). He was towed to an altitude of 7,500 feet msl (1,500 feet agl), and climbed in thermals and reached an altitude of 17,000 feet. At a point south of Salina, lift conditions deteriorated and he encountered sink. He selected a field 6 miles south of Salina in which to land. After touching down, he noticed an obstacle in the path of the left wing. He attempted to pull up and away from the obstacle but in doing so, the right wing contacted foliage, causing the glider to ground loop to the right.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.