One Was Well-Known Local Pilot 'Glider Bob'

Two people were fatally injured Wednesday in a motorglider accident in Telluride, CO, according to the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office.

The pilot of the aircraft was well-known local pilot Robert "Glider Bob" Saunders, the Sheriff's office said in a news release. Saunders, 64, was piloting the aircraft when it went down for an unknown reason in Prospect Basin in the Telluride Ski area around 2pm Wednesday. The other victim, a Colorado man, was the only passenger in the aircraft.

San Miguel Sheriff’s Office Dispatch was contacted at 2:11pm with reports of a possible aircraft crash. Sheriff’s Deputies and Telluride Fire Protection District EMS were dispatched. Telluride Ski and Golf (Telski) employees, who were working in the area and had seen the aircraft earlier, responded when they heard what they thought sounded like crash, and confirmed the event to Deputies.

First responders reached the two victims, who were both found pulseless, and attempted life-saving measures, but they were unsuccessful.

Sheriff Bill Masters said, “This is a terrible tragedy and an enormous loss for the families as well as the entire Telluride community. Telluride has lost another great one.”

Sheriff’s Deputies and the San Miguel County Coroner secured the scene and along with Search and Rescue personnel and Telski employees, removed the victims.

Deputy Chris White said, “It was a tragic scene and one that because of the location and terrain, was difficult to access and secure.”

“Glider Bob” was the owner and operator of “Glide Telluride” offering year-round glider rides soaring 14-15,000 feet around the region out of the Telluride Regional Airport. According to his website, he has been flying Stemme Motorgliders since 1997. The Denver Post reports that the aircraft was a Stemme S10-VT motorglider.

Sheriff’s Deputies and the San Miguel County Coroner are investigating the scene. The NTSB has been notified of the incident. The USFS has also been notified as the crash occurred on USFS land.

(Source: San Miguel County Sheriff's Office. Image courtesy San Miguel County Sheriff's Office via Twitter)

FMI: www.glidetelluride.com