Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 N511M

Summary

On 19 February 1990 at about 15:30 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 registered N511M was involved in an accident near Cabins, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 February 1990 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cabins, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

39.0594, -78.9595

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS-6

Registration

N511M

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petersburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO90DIG01

1 person died.

THE PILOT FAILED TO DETECT AND REMAIN CLEAR OF THE POWER LINE WHICH CROSSED THE FIELD IN WHICH HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE GLIDER FLYING NORMALLY AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND APPEARED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO LAND. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE GLIDER CONTACTED A POWER LINE WHICH SLICED THROUGH THE CANOPY, FATALLY INJURING THE PILOT. THE GLIDER THEN DESCENDED TO THE TERRAIN AND CONTACTED A BARBED WIRE FENCE PRIOR TO COMING TO REST. FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED. OTHER PILOTS IN THE AREA REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE AND STRONG ROTOR ACTIVITY IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.