Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 accident near Ashburnham, Massachusetts, July 13, 2003
On July 13, 2003 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 (glider), registered N130MD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ashburnham, Massachusetts. 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 in-flight decision to over fly a suitable landing area. Factors in this accident were weak thermal lift activity, and lack of suitable terrain at the time of the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2003 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ashburnham, Massachusetts · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · all LS-4s on the register
- Registration
- N130MD · registry record · serial 41039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a glider flight, the pilot was over an airport about 30 miles from his intended destination airport, at an altitude of about 1,160 feet above the ground. The pilot overheard radio communications between other glider pilots in the area who indicated that conditions were "tougher" than they expected. The pilot elected to attempt to reach his destination airport; however, he was not able to locate adequate thermal activity to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to divert to another airport; however, the glider continued to descend and he attempted a landing to a gravel pit. While on approach, the glider impacted trees and struck 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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2003; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B3 Sterling MA at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from FIT, 10 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.