Rolladen-Schneider LS-3-17 accident near Sandia Park, New Mexico, July 31, 1995
On July 31, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-3-17 (glider), registered N48EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandia Park, New Mexico. 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER EVALUATION OF THE DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1995 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sandia Park, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-3-17
- Registration
- N48EH · registry record · serial 3421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER BEING TOWED ALOFT, THUNDERSTORMS MOVED INTO THE AREA AND PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A CACTUS, SHEARING OFF THE LEFT WING AND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUNDLOOP.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 551 hours in all; 424 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,041 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.