Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 N536LS

Summary

On 20 June 2022 at about 00:30 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-6 registered N536LS was involved in an accident near Tahoe Vista, California, 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

20 June 2022 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tahoe Vista, California, United States

Nearest airport

Truckee-Tahoe (TRK)

Coordinates

39.2384, -120.0430

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS-6

Registration

N536LS

Category

Glider

Year built

1994

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Truckee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA225

Nobody was injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight and subsequent water ditching.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that, during an early afternoon flight, the glider began to encounter a sink rate. The pilot attempted to find thermals in the area, without success, and decided to return to the departure airport. As the glider continued to lose altitude, the pilot elected to ditch in a lake. The glider landed flat in the water and decelerated rapidly, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.