Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents
Learn from Colorado's accident history to fly safer in the Rockies
2310 Total Accidents
425 Fatal
816 Fatalities
1982-2026
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Minor/None
BOULDER, Colorado
NTSB Narrative
On July 16, 1993, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Glasfugel Standard Libell glider, N4362, impacted the ground near the Boulder, Colorado, Airport. The pilot received minor injuries and the glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated at the Boulder Airport.
According to the pilot, the spoilers deployed during takeoff and could not be retracted due to improper rigging. The pilot said he released from the tow and attempted to return to the airport. The aircraft impacted in a field across the street from the landing area.
The wings had been removed prior to examination of the aircraft and verification of spoiler rigging could not be conducted. IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE SPOILER SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED SPOILER DEPLOYMENT AND PREVENTED SPOILER RETRACTION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING
According to the pilot, the spoilers deployed during takeoff and could not be retracted due to improper rigging. The pilot said he released from the tow and attempted to return to the airport. The aircraft impacted in a field across the street from the landing area.
The wings had been removed prior to examination of the aircraft and verification of spoiler rigging could not be conducted. IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE SPOILER SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED SPOILER DEPLOYMENT AND PREVENTED SPOILER RETRACTION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING
Case Study & Lessons Learned
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Details
| NTSB Report | DEN93LA080 |
| Aircraft | GLASFLUGEL STANDARD LIBELL |
| Registration | N4362 |
| Damage | SUBS |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Location | 40.0198, -105.2495 |
