# Accident 20230831014349A: Schleicher Alexander Gmbh & Co ASH 26 E, Wellington, CO, August 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2023, 13:30 local time
- Place: Wellington, CO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.8648° N, 105.0783° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8648&lon=-105.0783&mi=10
- Aircraft: N50FU, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50FU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E (registry code 05624RU, https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-alexander-ash-26-e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Diamond AE50R (registry code 21100, https://openairdocs.org/engine/diamond-ae50r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ALEXANDER GMBH & CO ASH 26 E
- Reported engine: DIAMOND AE50R
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23FA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA391) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230831014349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN23FA391](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA391), Aug 31, 2023: Schleicher Alexander ASH 26 E (N50FU), Wellington, CO, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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