20230831014349A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E · Wellington, CO · August 31, 2023

Date: August 31, 2023 · 13:30 local
Place: Wellington, CO
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N50FU
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN23FA391
Reported as: Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E
Reported engine: Diamond AE50R
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0

N50FURegistered now · Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 ES/N 26248 · Built 2007 Airframe modelSchleicher Alexander ASH 26 E Engine modelDiamond AE50R2 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot took off from owl canyon gliderport flew westward gaining altitude to about 7000 feet. Made a right turn heading southeast back in the direction of the glider port. Lone witness reported seeing glider at approx. 60 feet "fluttering" left and right than nose into the field 8 miles short of the gliderport. Total flight time was 19 minutes. Pilot was deceased when witness approached aircraft.

Waiting for autopsy result and toxicology from cami.

Will amend report if required following result

As the FAA filed it

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM OWL CANYON GLIDERPORT FLEW WESTWARD GAINING ALTITUDE TO ABOUT 7000 FEET. MADE A RIGHT TURN HEADING SOUTHEAST BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GLIDER PORT. LONE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING GLIDER AT APPROX. 60 FEET "FLUTTERING" LEFT AND RIGHT THAN NOSE INTO THE FIELD 8 MILES SHORT OF THE GLIDERPORT. TOTAL FLIGHT TIME WAS 19 MINUTES. PILOT WAS DECEASED WHEN WITNESS APPROACHED AIRCRAFT.

WAITING FOR AUTOPSY RESULT AND TOXICOLOGY FROM CAMI.

WILL AMEND REPORT IF REQUIRED FOLLOWING RESULT

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN23FA391Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportWellington, COThe pilot’s loss of glider control during approach for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.Aug 31, 2023 · Substantial damage