Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 RES accident near Elbert, Colorado, June 16, 2024
On June 16, 2024 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2023 Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 RES (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N37JG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Elbert, Colorado (Kelly Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing with a right crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2024 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · Kelly Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Jonker Sailplanes (PTY) LTD JS3 RES, built 2023, amateur-built
- Registration
- N37JG · registry record · serial 03-179
- 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 the approach, the wind shifted 180°, and he amended his pattern to land on runway 17. During touchdown, a right crosswind gust lifted the glider, and the right wing contacted tall grass adjacent to the runway. The glider yawed to the right, and the pilot attempted to correct by applying left rudder and aileron. The glider then yawed to the left, and the left wing contacted the tall grass. The glider spun 180° and came to rest upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, he was landing the glider on runway 17 with a 12-knot right crosswind and wind gusts of 23 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,206 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,140 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 3, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,323 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Solo RES (electric); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 3,800 ft by 36 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from KMNH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMNH 162135Z AUTO 18016G20KT 10SM CLR 28/00 A2993 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 25, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photograph | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.