Rolladen-Schneider LS3A N43MM

Summary

On 9 July 2006 at about 23:15 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS3A registered N43MM, operated by Glenn Chouinard, was involved in an accident near Enumclaw, Washington, 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

9 July 2006 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Enumclaw, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Bergseth Field (WN76)

Coordinates

47.2433, -121.9247

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS3A

Registration

N43MM

Category

Airplane

Operator

Glenn Chouinard

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Enumclaw → Enumclaw

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA06CA143

Nobody was injured.

The glider pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in the aircraft impacting the dirt embankment on the side of the emergency run-out area. Factors include the pilot's improper decision not to deploy more airbrakes when he realized that he was crossing the threshold at too high of an altitude, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing flare.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the glider pilot crossed the runway threshold for landing, he realized that he was too high, and instead of further extending the airbrakes, which at the time were between one-third and one-half deployed, he lowered the nose of the aircraft in order to descend. This action increased the airspeed by about seven knots, and resulted in the aircraft landing about half way down the 2,100 foot runway. During his attempt to stop the aircraft on the remaining runway, the pilot inadvertently let the aircraft depart the left side of the runway, and as he attempted to get the aircraft back onto the runway surface prior to reaching the emergency run-out area, the aircraft came in contact with the side-slope of the built-up run-out area terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.