# NTSB FTW94LA151: Rolladen-Schneider LS-4, N4MN, Elbert, CO, May 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 1994, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Elbert, CO - Coordinates: 39.219993, -104.53057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2200&lon=-104.5306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19052/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA151 ## Probable cause INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT ON THE PART OF BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS POOR AIRPORT OPERATIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airport operations - poor, airport personnel (contributing factor) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis DURING SHORT FINAL FOR LANDING IN A GLIDER, THE PILOT SAW A TOW PLANE TURNING RIGHT JUST OFF HIS RIGHT SIDE AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO THE LEFT TO AVOID WHAT HE INTERPRETED TO BE AN IMMINENT COLLISION. DURING THIS ACTION THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER IMPACTED ON THE LEFT WING AND NOSE. THE TOW PLANE MADE A NORMAL LANDING IN THE DESIGNATED TOW PLANE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THE GLIDER WAS BESIDE HIM. THE GLIDER RUNWAY AND TOW PLANE RUNWAY ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND ARE A RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY USED AS A RUNWAY, AS PUBLISHED IN THE AIRPORT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. THE TOW PLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO; THEREFORE, HE DID NOT HEAR THE GLIDER PILOT'S TRANSMITTED INTENTIONS. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 1994, at 1600 mountain daylight time, a Rolladen Schneider LS-4 glider, N4MN, sustained substantial damage during landing at Kelly Air Park, Elbert, Colorado. The pilot was not injured and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, he was just off the ground during landing when he saw an airplane just off his right side in a right hand turn. He stated he thought a midair collision was eminent and turned left to avoid the aircraft. The left wing of the glider bounced off the ground resulting in a nose low, left wing down collision with the ground. A witness indicated the glider and the airplane were approaching to land approximately 15 feet apart, wing to wing, when the glider suddenly veered left and collided with the ground. Investigation revealed that the runway area being used by the aircraft was a grass strip next to the runway and that the aircraft radio was inoperative. The pilot of the aircraft did not hear the glider pilot call in and did not see the glider. The two were lined up to land simultaneously, each on the runway specified for the type. Attached is an airport diagram and airport operating instructions. These provide information that the runway and taxiways are both used for arrivals and departures, are in close proximity to each other, and have opposing traffic patterns. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4MN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4MN-2017-09-21), registration cancelled 2017-09-21, S/N 4086, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROLLADEN-SCHNEIDER LS-4 - Registry model: [Rolladen-Schneider LS-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/rolladen-schneider-ls-4) (registry code 3801250) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 4086 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Killing, Fredo P. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1994 - Airport: CO15, Kelly Air Park, runway 35, 3,800 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; private; seat: front; flight hours: 640 total, 150 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: COS, 30 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 19940508010329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940508010329A), May 8, 1994: Rolsch LS4, Elbert, CO, Substantial damage. Landing saw towplane off right side banked avoid collision. Wing hit. Glider cartwheeled. Aircraft on tow runway. 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.