Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A accident near Rochester, Vermont, June 22, 1986
On June 22, 1986 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N430RH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1986 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4A, amateur-built · all LS-4As on the register
- Registration
- N430RH · no longer on the register · serial 4384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PARTICIPATING IN A X-COUNTRY SOARING RACE. APROX 15 MILES FROM DESTINATION AND FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT WAS CERTIFICATED AND QUALIFIED FOR THE FLIGHT. ANOTHER GLIDER PLT SAW THE ACC ACFT AS IT CIRCLED TO GAIN ALT TO CLEAR A RIDGE FOR LANDING. VISUAL CONTACT WAS LOST AND A SHORT TIME LATER A WINGTIP WAS SEEN IN AN OPEN FIELD. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE CRASH. ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE WING HAD SEPARATED DURING IMPACT AND THE FUSELAGE WAS DAMAGED ON THE RT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 316 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 309 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 1986; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Unknown UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0B7 Warren VT
- Destination: OB7 Warren VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.