N81799

Substantial
None

PDPS PZL-BIELSKO SZD-55-1S/N: 551199108

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, May 12, 2013
NTSB Number
ERA13CA272
Location
Henderson, NC
Event ID
20130606X83147
Coordinates
36.245277, -78.308891
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of aerodynamic lift that resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N81799
Make
PDPS PZL-BIELSKO
Serial Number
551199108
Year Built
1999
Model / ICAO
SZD-55-1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SITAR ZLATKO
Address
3001 GREYHAWK PL
Status
Deregistered
City
APEX
State / Zip Code
NC 27539-9314
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he had been soaring in his glider for approximately 3 hours. While returning to the airport, the glider encountered a sink and had descended 2,500 feet before the pilot was able to find a more favorable air mass. At that time, the glider was too low to fly to the airport and the pilot elected to land in a field. While on final approach, the pilot noticed that the field had deep ruts; however, he was committed to landing at that point. During the landing, the left wing struck a rut and the glider ground-looped, which partially separated the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA272