Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26E accident near Castle Rock, Colorado, April 29, 2007
On April 29, 2007 at about 11:13 pm local time, a Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26E (glider), registered N123KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castle Rock, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2007 · about 11:13 pm local time
- Place
- Castle Rock, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher Alexander GMBH ASH 26E
- Registration
- N123KS · registry record · serial 26157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to several witnesses, the self-launching sailplane entered a turn to the left. During the turn, the left wing dropped and the sailplane dove towards the ground. Ground scars at the scene were consistent with a nose low, left wing low, impact attitude. An examination of the glider's systems revealed no anomalies. Thunderstorm activity existed along the route of flight. The pilot had not obtained a full weather briefing prior to the flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,664 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,158 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Diamond AE50R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Kelly Airpark CO at 7:10 pm
- Destination: CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KAPA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.