Glasflügel 304 strikes the ground on downwind in the outflow of a decaying shower
The pilot of a Glasflügel 304 MS was killed and the glider destroyed when the outflow from a decaying shower caught it on the downwind leg at a Colorado airfield. Returning from a flight of more than five hours, he turned downwind about 630 m above the field, and the glider began descending at more than 8 m/s. He radioed that he had heavy sink. Surveillance video showed it going down left wing low while blowing dust crossed the field in the same direction, and it came down on airport ground near the approach end of the runway. Two minutes later the airfield logged a gust of 80 km/h. No pre-impact fault was found.
- Five-hour flight returns to the field: The pilot launched from the Colorado airfield around midday, flew about 260 km west and back, and returned after more than five hours aloft.
- Outflow reaches the airfield: A decaying shower was drifting across the area with virga beneath it, and blowing dust began crossing the airfield about two minutes before the accident.
- Descends over 8 m/s on downwind: Turning onto the downwind leg about 630 m above the field, the glider began descending at more than 8 m/s. The pilot radioed that he had heavy sink.
- Strong tailwind across the circuit: Video showed the glider going down left wing low while blowing dust crossed the field in the same direction. Two minutes after impact the airfield logged a gust of 80 km/h.
- Ground impact beside the runway: The glider came down on airport ground near the approach end of the runway and was destroyed. The pilot was killed. No pre-impact fault was found.