Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A accident near Ashburn, Georgia, June 8, 1983
On June 8, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A (glider), registered N60LS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashburn, Georgia (Turner CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ashburn, Georgia · Turner CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A · all LS-4As on the register
- Registration
- N60LS · registry record · serial 4192
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A SOARING CONTEST & WAS ON A ROUND ROBIN COURSE FROM CORDELE, GA TO PERRY, DAWSON, SYLVESTER & BACK TO CORDELE. ON THE RETURN LEG, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT LIFT TO COMPLETE THE TRIP, SO AN ALTERNATE LANDING SITE (WHEAT FIELD) WAS SELECTED. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A PATCH OF GRAIN THAT HAD NOT BEEN CUT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER GROUND LOOPED DAMAGING THE FUSELAGE & LEFT WING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,686 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 1,627 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 02J Cordele GA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from ABY, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.