Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 accident near Elbert, Colorado, May 8, 1994
On May 8, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 (glider), registered N4MN, was substantially damaged in an accident 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT ON THE PART OF BOTH PILOTS. A FACTOR WAS POOR AIRPORT OPERATIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1994 · about 10:00 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
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 · all LS-4s on the register
- Registration
- N4MN · no longer on the register · serial 4086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING SHORT FINAL FOR LANDING IN A GLIDER, THE PILOT SAW A TOW PLANE TURNING RIGHT JUST OFF HIS RIGHT SIDE AND TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO THE LEFT TO AVOID WHAT HE INTERPRETED TO BE AN IMMINENT COLLISION. DURING THIS ACTION THE LEFT WING OF THE GLIDER CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE GLIDER IMPACTED ON THE LEFT WING AND NOSE. THE TOW PLANE MADE A NORMAL LANDING IN THE DESIGNATED TOW PLANE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THE GLIDER WAS BESIDE HIM. THE GLIDER RUNWAY AND TOW PLANE RUNWAY ARE NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND ARE A RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY USED AS A RUNWAY, AS PUBLISHED IN THE AIRPORT OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. THE TOW PLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO; THEREFORE, HE DID NOT HEAR THE GLIDER PILOT'S TRANSMITTED INTENTIONS.
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: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,038 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,800 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from COS, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 FTW94LA151.