Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 N597R

Summary

On 4 October 1996 at about 18:40 local time, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 registered N597R was involved in an accident near Sterling, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 October 1996 at 18:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Sterling Municipal (STK)

Coordinates

40.6201, -103.1898

Aircraft

Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59

Registration

N597R

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA004

1 person died.

Loss of control when the pilot exceeded the velocity of stall while in a turn.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While returning to land after a practice aerobatics flight, the pilot flew the glider down the runway of intended landing at 100 feet above ground level and then entered a 45 degree bank left turn. The nose began to drop and the bank angle increased to about 60 degrees and the glider dove into the ground next to the runway with a nose attitude of approximately 60 degrees nose down. At the time, the glider tow plane was back taxiing on the runway. Terrain around the airport was flat grass covered farm fields.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.