Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A accident near Sparks, Nevada, July 31, 1990
On July 31, 1990 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A (glider), registered N34AZ, was destroyed in an accident near Sparks, Nevada. 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 INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GLIDER AS A RESULT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING AN INFLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TURBULENT WEATHER CONDITION ENCOUNTERED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1990 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sparks, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS3-A
- Registration
- N34AZ · registry record · serial 3349
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GLIDER COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN AFTER AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT BAILED OUT OF THE GLIDER BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT INDICATED THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE. DURING THE ENCOUNTER, THE PILOT'S HEAD STRUCK THE GLIDER CANOPY AND THE PILOT'S RIGHT ARM WAS INJURED. THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE PITCH OF THE GLIDER AND ELECTED TO BAIL OUT. THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULTY EXITING THE GLIDER DUE TO INJURIES. THE INJURY TO THE RIGHT ARM HAMPERED THE PILOT IN RELEASING THE GLIDER CANOPY, RELEASING HER SEAT BELT, AND PULLING THE PARACHUTE 'D-RING.' AFTER RELEASING THE CANOPY AND UNFASTENING THE SEAT BELT WITH THE AID OF HER LEFT HAND, THE PILOT DEPLOYED HER PARACHUTE WHILE STILL SEATED. THE PILOT LEANED FORWARD IN THE COCKPIT AND THE PILOT CHUTE DEPLOYED. AS THE MAIN CHUTE INFLATED, THE PILOT WAS PULLED FROM THE GLIDER. THE PILOT PARACHUTED SAFELY TO THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,939 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 181 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 2,867 as pilot in command; 1,900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 794 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1989; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,041 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from RNO, 20 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.