Schweizer SGS 1-35 N2851H

Summary

On 20 June 2021 at about 22:30 local time, a Schweizer SGS 1-35 registered N2851H, operated by Smith Leonard I III, was involved in an accident near Wellington, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 June 2021 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wellington, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.7039, -105.0086

Aircraft

Schweizer SGS 1-35

Registration

N2851H

Category

Glider

Year built

1976

Operator

Smith Leonard I III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA281

1 person had minor injuries.

The glider pilot’s loss of visual references during the landing approach resulting in an off-airport landing on rough sloping terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that during base leg to final approach for landing, he lost sight of the runway, forcing him having to maneuver to avoid a house and to perform an off-field landing on rough sloping terrain. The glider impacted the ground hard, ground-looped, and came to rest in a large ditch. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that this was his first landing at this airport and that he should have flown an orientation flight with another pilot familiar with the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.