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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 1994
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · Kelly Air Park · cases near this airport · 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 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4MN: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Rolladen-Schneider LS-4 56 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Rolladen-Schneider 117 aircraft on the register
- Engine: · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kelly Air Park Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,484 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW94LA151.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.