Schleicher ASH 25 E accident near Peyton, Colorado, May 15, 1993
On May 15, 1993 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Schleicher ASH 25 E (glider), registered N555AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peyton, Colorado (Meadow Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENCOUNTER WITH A DOWNDRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1993 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Peyton, Colorado · Meadow Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASH 25 E · all ASH 25 Es on the register
- Registration
- N555AB · registry record · serial 25041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LAUNCHING VIA AERO TOW AND OBTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR FEET, THE MOTORIZED GLIDER (ENGINE NOT OPERATING) AND TOW PLANE SANK TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND, CAUSING IT TO TURN LEFT. THE GLIDER PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW PLANE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO AVOID GROUND LOOPING. WINDS AT COLORADO SPRINGS, LOCATED 13 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 105 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 10 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 323 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1992; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,645 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 275 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00V at 5:45 pm
- Destination: 00V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 105° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.