# NTSB CEN11CA225: Ams-Flight D.O.O. DG-500 Elan Orion, N505KK, Boulder, CO, March 14, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 14, 2011, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Boulder, CO
- Coordinates: 40.033332, -105.235 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0333&lon=-105.2350&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78546
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA225
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78546/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78546
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA225

## Probable cause

The in flight loss of lift while landing, resulting in a collision with a fence.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ams-Flight D.O.O. DG-500 ELAN ORION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=3802559), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Ams-Flight D.O.O. DG-500 ELAN ORION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=3802559), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was to practice slip maneuvers to a landing with no spoilers. While on short final of the traffic pattern, the student pilot reduced the slip to maintain the glide path, at which time, the glider encountered a sink and descended. While in the flare over a fence, the left wing impacted a fence pole, resulting in substantial damage to the glider. The CFI stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the glider prior to the accident.

## Factual narrative

According to the accident report form submitted by the flight instructor, the student had lined the glider up for landing, and a prelanding assessment indicated that the winds were calm. The purpose of the flight was to practice slips to a landing with no spoilers. While on short final, the slip was reduced to maintain the glide path, at which time, the glider encountered a sink rate. The student maintained the glide path; however, while in the flare over a fence, the left wing impacted a fence pole, resulting in substantial damage to the glider. The flight instructor stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the glider prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505KK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505KK), registered now, S/N 5E201X46 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMS-FLIGHT D.O.O. DG-500 ELAN ORION
- Registry model: [Ams-Flight D.O.O. DG-500 ELAN ORION](https://openairdocs.org/model/ams-flight-d-o-o-dg-500-elan-orion) (registry code 3802559) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 5E201X46
- Airframe hours: 2720
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Soaring Society Of Boulder
- Registered owner: Soaring Society Of Boulder
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 12, 2011
- Departed: KBDU, Boulder, CO
- Destination: KBDU, Boulder, CO
- Airport: KBDU, Boulder Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; last flight review January 29, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 11,216 total, 630 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 9, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 2,341 total, 4 in this make and model, 2,260 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KBJC, 9 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20110314004279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110314004279A), Mar 14, 2011: Ams-Flight D.O.O. DG-500 ELAN ORION, Boulder, CO, Substantial damage. On 14 March 2011 on or about 1215 hours aircraft DG-500 orion N505KK impacted a fence post at the end of the runway at Boulder airport, Boulder, Colorado. Dual…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78546. 895 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 895 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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