Wsk Pzl PW-5 N908BT

Summary

On 11 April 2002 at about 20:00 local time, a Wsk Pzl PW-5 registered N908BT was involved in an accident near New Smithville, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 April 2002 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

New Smithville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.5083, -75.6736

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl PW-5

Registration

N908BT

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blairstown → Blairstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD02LA042

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather which resulted in the loss of thermal lift and collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an "out-and-back" cross-country flight in a glider, the pilot noticed that the thermal lift began to dissipate, and he decided to "land out" in a field 1,500 feet below. He made a traffic pattern entry, and performed a forced landing. While on the base leg, the glider struck the top of a row of 20-foot-tall "hedge trees" at the edge of the field, and came to rest suspended in one of the trees. Examination of the glider revealed no mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.