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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 10, 1983 · Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · N3025R

La Jolla, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 10, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
La Jolla, CA
Aircraft
Rolladen-Schneider LS-4
Tail Number
N3025R
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX83LA190

THE PLT WAS QUALIFIED FOR SOLO WINCH LAUNCHES IN AN SGS-1-26 GLIDER. ON HIS 1ST WINCH LAUNCH USING A C.G. HOOK IN THIS GLIDER, HE ALLOWED THE ACFT TO ENTER AN ABNORMALLY HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK, WHICH WAS OBSERVED THRU-OUT THE TAKEOFF PROCESS. THE GLIDE THEN ENTERED A STALL-SPIN & CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, FORWARD ELEVATOR MUST BE USED AFTER LEAVING THE GROUND DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE TOW HOOK & THE TENDENCY OF THE GLIDER TO ENTER A STEEP NOSE-UP ATTITUDE. THE MANUAL REQUIRED PRONOUNCED FORWARD PRESSURE THRU-OUT THE TRANSITION ARC.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS QUALIFIED FOR SOLO WINCH LAUNCHES IN AN SGS-1-26 GLIDER. ON HIS 1ST WINCH LAUNCH USING A C.G. HOOK IN THIS GLIDER, HE ALLOWED THE ACFT TO ENTER AN ABNORMALLY HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK, WHICH WAS OBSERVED THRU-OUT THE TAKEOFF PROCESS. THE GLIDE THEN ENTERED A STALL-SPIN & CRASHED. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, FORWARD ELEVATOR MUST BE USED AFTER LEAVING THE GROUND DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE TOW HOOK & THE TENDENCY OF THE GLIDER TO ENTER A STEEP NOSE-UP ATTITUDE. THE MANUAL REQUIRED PRONOUNCED FORWARD PRESSURE THRU-OUT THE TRANSITION ARC.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:10 PST
Nearest AirportTorrey Pines Gliderport (0nm N)
Runway27
Runway Length1500 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRolladen-Schneider LS-4
Tail NumberN3025R
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engine TypeUnknown
Engine DetailsUnknown
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 55 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 9 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 10000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data