Rolladen-Schneider LS 6 accident near Sussex, New Jersey, September 13, 2013
On September 13, 2013 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS 6 (glider), registered N650DP, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Sussex, New Jersey. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper selection of an off-airport landing site, and his subsequent failure to maintain clearance from trees during a crosswind landing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2013 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sussex, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS 6 C · all LS 6s on the register
- Registration
- N650DP · registry record · serial 6054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was aloft over a ridge for 4 hours before the glider experienced a loss of thermal lift. He departed the ridge to the lee side towards a valley with fields in which he intended to land. While on final approach for landing, the glider's upwind wing encountered a gust of wind and subsequently impacted a row of trees before coming to rest in a field; resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or anomalies of the glider that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that the accident may have been avoided had he remained within gliding distance of a landing site upwind of the ridge in order to avoid lee-side turbulence and sink. The pilot further stated that he overflew several adequate landing sites, but chose to continue in hopes of reaching an airport or a field further from the ridge. As a result, the glider lost altitude and airspeed, which left it "vulnerable to strong gusts."
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 898 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 858 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,221 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 1N7 Blairstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from FWN, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.