Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
NTSB analysis
The solo student pilot reported that, during landing, about 10 ft above ground, the glider was "hit by a tail gust/downdraft," then it landed hard.
The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 8 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 170° at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot landed the glider on runway 8G.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA389 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 27, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado
- Nearest airport
- Boulder Muni (BDU)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Schweizer SGS 1 34
- N-number
- N134BC
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 1973
- 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.