- Date
- June 5, 1994, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wellington, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3992Glasflugel Standard Libelle
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940605015319A
- Case key
- 19087
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Was the pilot's improper compensation for the crosswind. A factor was the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The glider was towed aloft and released at 2,000 feet AGL. The pilot said he encountered 'strong sink' and decided to return to the gliderport. He entered the traffic pattern at low altitude and when he turned onto the base leg, he realized he would be unable to clear obstacles between him and the runway. The pilot attempted to turn into the wind but did not have sufficient altitude, and the glider landed in a field 'with a strong right side drift.' When the tail wheel contacted the ground, the 'side motion' caused the tail boom to separate.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 1994, approximately 1330 mountain daylight time, a Glasflugel Standard Libelle, N3992, was substantially damaged during landing at Wellington, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The glider was towed aloft and released 2,000 feet above the ground. The pilot said that although it was his intention to capture a thermal and climb to a higher altitude, he encountered "strong sink" instead and he decided to return to the gliderport. He entered the traffic pattern at low altitude and when he turned onto the base leg, he realized he would be unable to clear obstacles between him and the runway. The pilot said he attempted to turn into the wind but did not have sufficient altitude, and the glider landed in a field "with a strong right side drift." When the tail wheel contacted the ground, the "side motion" caused the tail boom to separate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3992
- Reported as
- Glasflugel Standard Libelle (STANDARD L)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 219
- Airframe hours
- 610
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Roland, Ken/Hauenstein, Albert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 10, 1994 · 0 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,510 total · 4 in this make and model · 1,510 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.