Hph Spol Sro GLASFLUGEL 304 MS accident near Rifle, CO
On June 9, 2022, a Hph Spol Sro GLASFLUGEL 304 MS (glider) was involved in an accident near Rifle, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 9, 2022
- Place
- Rifle, CO
- Aircraft
- Hph Spol Sro GLASFLUGEL 304 MS · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.527°N, 107.728°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220610105236
Official records · CEN22FA240
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Airport Ctaf Audio: Audio recording (WAV), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 9, 2022, at 1737 mountain daylight time, a HPH SPOL SRO Glasflugel 304MS powered glider, N249SD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at the Rifle Garfield County Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) flight tracking the flight originated about 1200 from RIL. The glider proceeded in a generally westward direction for about 160 miles before turning back eastward. At 1712, the glider was about 45 miles north of RIL at 14,300 ft mean sea level (msl), when it turned to the south toward RIL. At 1735, the glider was about 2 miles west of RIL at 7,600 ft msl when it began a left turn onto a downwind traffic pattern leg for runway 26. The published field elevation for RIL was 5,337 ft msl. When the glider was on the downwind leg, about abeam the midfield location, it began descending rapidly. The descent rate during the last 47 seconds of the flight was calculated to be more than 1,600 ft/min. The RIL airport was an uncontrolled airport and communications were conducted on a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). CTAF at RIL was recorded and copies of the communications were provided for the investigation. On the recording, the pilot of the accident glider reported “heavy sink going for left downwind two six”. There was no time index on the CTAF recording provided. A video surveillance recording from RIL captured the accident. The camera was positioned about 1,00
Probable cause
The glider’s encounter with gusting tailwind and downdraft conditions that the pilot was unable to overcome.
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Browse: Colorado
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
