Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 and Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 mid-air collision near Chester, South Carolina, April 22, 1988
On April 22, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 (N45BD) and Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 (N295SZ), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chester, South Carolina. No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Chester, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · all LS-4s on the register
- Registration
- N45BD · no longer on the register · serial 4091
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · all LS-4s on the register
- Registration
- N295SZ · no longer on the register · serial 4566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THERMALING DURING THE SAILPLANE COMPETITION, N45BD WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND TO THE LEFT OF N295SZ. N45BD MADE A RIGHT TURN AND STRUCK THE RIGHT INBOARD WING SECTION OF N295SZ WITH THE OUTBOARD WING TIP OF N45BD. THE OUTBOARD WING TIP OF N45BD SEPARATED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO PARACHUTE TO SAFETY. THE PILOT OF N295SZ WAS ABLE TO LAND HIS SAILPLANE SAFELY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THERMALING DURING THE SAILPLANE COMPETITION, N45BD WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND TO THE LEFT OF N295SZ. N45BD MADE A RIGHT TURN AND STRUCK THE RIGHT INBOARD WING SECTION OF N294SZ WITH THE OUTBOARD WING TIP OF N45BD. THE OUTBOARD WING TIP OF N45BD SEPARATED AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO PARACHUTE TO SAFETY. THE PILOT OF N295SZ WAS ABLE TO LAND HIS SAILPLANE SAFELY.
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 for the Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 547 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 494 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A6 Chester SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,745 hours in all; 49 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 357 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9A6 Chester SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N45BD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N45BD: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 56 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Rolladen-Schneider 117 aircraft on the register
- N295SZ: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 56 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Rolladen-Schneider 117 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in South Carolina 1,036 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- South Carolina 3,112 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N45BD 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL88LA149.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.