Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On April 29, 2007, at 1713 mountain daylight time, a Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26E self launching sailplane, N123KS, owned and piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain approximately 5 miles west of Castle Rock, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight originated from Kelly Airpark at 1310.

According to several members of the Black Forest Soaring Society, the accident pilot arrived at the Kelly Airpark with the intention to fly his personal sailplane. The Black Forest Soaring Society tow plane pilot was unable to fly and the accident pilot elected to fly the club tow plane until another tow pilot was available. They estimate he flew for 1 hour.

After conducting 4 tow flights, the accident pilot got into his personal sailplane to fly. According to Black Forest Soaring Society members, 8 to 10 gliders launched from Kelly Airpark the day of the accident. At least five of those gliders, including the accident flight, flew to the west of Kelly Airpark. Three of those flights proceeded as far north as Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The accident flight, and one other glider flew up and down the Front Range.

Several witnesses, just west of Castle Rock, observed a sailplane, matching the description of the accident sailplane, flying in the area. One witness reported observing the sailplane enter a bank to the left. The witness stated that the sailplane leveled off and then initiated a turn to the left again. The witness stated that the left wing dropped, and the nose of the sailplane dove straight to the ground. The sailplane disappeared behind the ridge. Another witness observed the flight from a distance and stated that the sailplane was descending. The witness commented that the first 1,000 feet of the descent "did not seem too fast." He stated further that the last 1,000 feet of altitude loss "took place between 30 seconds and a minute."

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 44, held a commercial pilot certificate, with an airplane single engine, multi-engine, glider, and instrument ratings, which was last issued on October 1, 2006. He was issued a second class airman medical certificate on October 23, 2006. The certificate contained the limitation that the "holder shall wear lenses that correct for distant vision while exercising the privileges of his/her airman certificate." According to an instructor with the Black Forest Soaring Society, the pilot obtained a spring currency flight April 14, 2007. The flight duration was 45 minutes.

The aircraft maintenance log was provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (Safety Board) investigator-in-charge (IIC) for review. The pilot had logged his flight experience in the accident sailplane maintenance log, excluding