Probable cause
The in flight loss of lift while landing, resulting in a collision with a fence.
NTSB analysis
According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the purpose of the flight was to practice slip maneuvers to a landing with no spoilers. While on short final of the traffic pattern, the student pilot reduced the slip to maintain the glide path, at which time, the glider encountered a sink and descended. While in the flare over a fence, the left wing impacted a fence pole, resulting in substantial damage to the glider. The CFI stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the glider prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA225 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 14, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Boulder Municipal Airport (KBDU)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
DG-500 ELAN ORION
- N-number
- N505KK
- Category
- Glider
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.