# NTSB DEN86LA107: Rolladen-Schneider L53, N96JH, Colorado Spring, CO, March 29, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1986, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16942
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86LA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16942/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86LA107

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - climb - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - planned approach - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS MAKING A LANDING DUE TO AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM. ON FINAL, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE AND AT 300 FT AGL, THE GLIDER WAS FORCED ONTO THE GROUND BY A MICROBURST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N96JH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N96JH), registered now, S/N 3050, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Rolladen-Schneider L53
- Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-3) (registry code 3801213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 3050
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J.T. Berger, Jr. T.F. Devereux
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: CO26, Black Forest Glider Port

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; flight hours: 342 total, 65 in this make and model, 324 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS, 10 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 19860329008269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860329008269A), Mar 29, 1986: Rolsch LS3, Colorado Spring, CO, Substantial damage. The glider was forced into a fence during final approach. Two pilots reported microburst activity over airport.

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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