History of Flight
On June 9, 2022, at 1737 mountain daylight time, a HPH SPOL SRO Glasflugel 304MS powered glider, registration N249SD, was destroyed when it struck terrain at the Rifle Garfield County Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
According to automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data, the glider departed RIL around 1200 and proceeded westward for about 160 miles before turning eastward. At 1712, it was approximately 45 miles north of RIL at 14,300 ft mean sea level (msl). It then turned south toward the airport. At 1735, about 2 miles west of RIL at 7,600 ft msl, the glider began a left turn onto a downwind leg for runway 26 (field elevation 5,337 ft msl). While on the downwind leg, abeam midfield, it began descending rapidly. The descent rate during the last 47 seconds exceeded 1,600 ft/min.
RIL is an uncontrolled airport using a common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). Recorded communications captured the pilot reporting “heavy sink going for left downwind two six.” No time index was available on the recording.
A surveillance video from RIL, positioned about 1,000 ft east and 400 ft north of the runway 26 approach threshold, recorded the accident. The glider descended in a left-wing-low attitude and struck the ground at time index 1737:49. Its track was consistent with ADS-B data. Around that time, a dust cloud appeared traveling in the same direction as the glider, indicating a strong tailwind. The video also showed virga forming in clouds above the airport about 12 minutes after the accident.
Weather Information
The 1753 surface weather observation at RIL recorded wind from 290° at 5 kts, gusting to 16 kts. Remarks noted a peak wind from 190° at 43 kts at 1739. Weather radar showed a dissipating rain shower cell moving from west to east-southeast across the area, with virga observed in airport and FAA weather camera imagery. Airport surveillance and FAA video both showed blowing dust from 1735 to 1739, indicative of strong winds. The upper air sounding indicated potential for surface wind speeds up to 67 kts due to a downdraft, outflow boundary, or gust front.
The terminal area forecast before departure did not indicate precipitation, but by 1358 it was updated to include potential convective activity at RIL through 1800. Whether the pilot had access to updated weather information during the flight is unknown.
Aircraft and Wreckage
The glider was a single-seat, mid-wing powered glider with a retractable engine and propeller, providing self-launch capability. It had a wingspan of 59 ft and a gross weight of 1,320 lbs. The glider was registered to the pilot. Operating limitations required a condition inspection within the preceding 12 months, but maintenance records were not available.
The accident site was on airport property about 1,000 ft and 140° from the approach end of runway 26. The distance from initial impact to main wreckage was about 170 ft at 10°, consistent with a left base leg. The forward fuselage was extensively crushed. Tail surfaces separated from the fuselage and were found near the main wreckage. The right wing was largely intact except for separation of the outboard removable panel. The left-wing root remained attached; the left wing separated about 2 ft outboard and was found inverted. The horizontal tail separated from the fin and broke mid-span. The rudder remained attached. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed on June 10, 2022, on behalf of the Garfield County Coroner’s Office listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute was negative for substances in the screening profile.