Rolladen-Schneider LS-3 accident near South Mountain, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1990
On July 3, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-3 (glider), registered N41MP, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Mountain, Pennsylvania. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- South Mountain, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-3
- Registration
- N41MP · registry record · serial 3029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT RAN OUT OF LIFT AND ATTEMPTED A LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. HE WAS TOO HIGH AND FLEW BEYOND THE FIELD TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LAND DOWNWIND. DURING THE TURN, THE GLIDER STALLED 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: 611 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 611 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 727 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1990; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,041 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W73 Fairfield PA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.