Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, May 30, 1993
On May 30, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II (glider), registered N173, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado (Buena Vista Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES WHEN OPERATING THE FLAPS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · Buena Vista Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth NIMBUS II
- Registration
- N173 · registry record · serial 27
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT WENT FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE FLAPS AFTER THE CONTROLS BECAME EFFECTIVE. THE FLAP TRANSITION WAS RAPID AND THE GLIDER BEGAN TO OSCILLATE IN PITCH. THE OSCILLATIONS BECAME DIVERGENT AND THE GLIDER ROLLED OFF ON A WING AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER THE SAFETY ROPE PARTED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WENT FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE FLAPS TOO QUICKLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,617 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,434 as pilot in command; 940 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,073 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,248 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7V1 at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 7V1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 9,000 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from LXV, 30 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.