Kelly Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elbert, Colorado 80106
Sunday, June 16, 2013 14:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement, the pilot said he departed in his glider with an observed thunderstorm approximately 50 miles from the airport. About 2 hours later, after hearing that other glider pilots had returned to the airport due to the approaching storm, he returned as well. During the approach to the airport, it was raining and the wind was gusting to 38 knots. The airplane landed with a left crosswind. During the landing roll, the left wing impacted the ground and the glider ground looped. The glider sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies and stated the accident could have been prevented if he had landed sooner.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed return to the airport.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Elbert
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80106
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 391317N
Event Location Longitude 1043814W
Event Location Airport Kelly Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CO15
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1334 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID CO15
Elevation of weather observation facility 7040
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 27
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 33
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31622
NTSB Notification Source R. Culberston
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2013 3:21PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N72EM
NTSB Number CEN13CA410
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SCHLEICHER
Aircraft Model ASW-27
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 27193
Certified Max Gross Weight 1102
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 993
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CULBERTSON RICK C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LITTLETON
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80124-9571
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CULBERTSON RICK C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LITTLETON
Operator State CO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 80124-9571
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CO15
Departure City Elbert
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CO15
Destination City Elbert
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2013 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 36
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --