Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1 N817V

Summary

On 29 July 2017 at about 19:33 local time, a Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1 registered N817V was involved in an accident near Mocksville, North Carolina, 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

29 July 2017 at 19:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Mocksville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Bahnson (43NC)

Coordinates

36.0208, -80.5164

Aircraft

Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD 55-1

Registration

N817V

Category

Glider

Year built

1992

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mocksville → Mocksville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA456

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare in gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that, during landing in gusting wind conditions, the glider bounced, so the pilot added "more spoiler" to help the glider settle back onto the ground. He added that a wind gust "rotated" the glider to the left, and the glider bounced about 3 to 4 ft. After the second bounce, the glider landed hard "with the nose yawed to the left." The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located 16 nautical miles east of the accident airport reported that, about 40 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 30° at 17 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 360° at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The glider landed on runway 1.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.