# NTSB CEN21LA281: Schweizer SGS 1-35, N2851H, Wellington, CO, June 20, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 20, 2021, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Wellington, CO - Coordinates: 40.7039, -105.0086 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7039&lon=-105.0086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA281 ## Probable cause The glider pilot’s loss of visual references during the landing approach resulting in an off-airport landing on rough sloping terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=8050148), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=8050148), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=8050148), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8050148), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schweizer SGS 1-35, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8050148), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The glider pilot reported that during base leg to final approach for landing, he lost sight of the runway, forcing him having to maneuver to avoid a house and to perform an off-field landing on rough sloping terrain. The glider impacted the ground hard, ground-looped, and came to rest in a large ditch. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that this was his first landing at this airport and that he should have flown an orientation flight with another pilot familiar with the airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2851H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2851H), registered now, S/N 51, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 1-35 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-35](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-35) (registry code 8050148) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 51 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 1993 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smith Leonard I III - Registered owner: Smith Leonard I III - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; last flight review November 10, 2019; seat: single; flight hours: 253 total, 208 in this make and model, 253 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KFNL, 15 nm away - METAR: KFNL 202256Z 06011KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP093 T02610089 ## 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 20210620007909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210620007909A), Jun 20, 2021: Schweizer SGS 1-35, Wellington, CO, Substantial damage. On June 20 2021 at 1800 N2851H sustained substantial damage during an off airport landing at Owl Canyon gliderport 4CO2. The PIC had trailered his glider to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103298. 1.5 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN21LA281 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814220&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN21LA281_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA281 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12814651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA281-Rel.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.