Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A N31JN

Summary

On 24 June 1985 at about 23:30 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A registered N31JN, operated by Larry Ferguson, was involved in an accident near Callahan, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

24 June 1985 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Callahan, California, United States

Coordinates

41.3594, -122.7699

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A

Registration

N31JN

Category

Glider

Operator

Larry Ferguson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montague → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX85FA293

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A X-COUNTRY SOARING COMPETITION. HE RELEASED FROM THE TOW AT 5,000 FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL. ABOUT ONE HOUR LATER HE IMFORMED HIS CREW BY RADIO THAT HE HAD COVERED 80 PERCENT OF THE FIRST LEG AND THAT HE WAS 'DOING FINE.' THE FLT DID NOT RETURN AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING MORNING 35 MILES SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE SAIL-PLANE. THE PLT WAS CERTIFICATED AND QUALIFIED FOR THE FLT. OTHER CONTESTANTS REPORTED THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH STRONG, GUSTY SURFACE WINDS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.