Schweizer SGS 1-35 accident near Wellington, Colorado, June 20, 2021
On June 20, 2021 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1976 Schweizer SGS 1-35 (glider), registered N2851H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Wellington, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider pilot’s loss of visual references during the landing approach resulting in an off-airport landing on rough sloping terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2021 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wellington, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer SGS 1-35, built 1976 · all SGS 1-35s on the register
- Registration
- N2851H · registry record · serial 51
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of visual reference during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 253 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 253 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 10, 2019
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 685 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KFNL, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFNL 202256Z 06011KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP093 T02610089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN21LA281.