Pzl-Swidnik PW 5 N123PW

Summary

On 23 June 2018 at about 18:45 local time, a Pzl-Swidnik PW 5 registered N123PW was involved in an accident near Waller, Texas, 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

23 June 2018 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Waller, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Soaring Club Of Houston (89TA)

Coordinates

30.1928, -95.9633

Aircraft

Pzl-Swidnik PW 5

Registration

N123PW

Category

Glider

Year built

1996

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waller → Waller

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA382

Nobody was injured.

The glider pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the glider pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the glider had reached 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), but he was unable to find more lift. The glider was about 1.5 miles west of the airfield, and he decided to continue west in search of lift under a cloud formation. He did not find lift and returned to his previous position 1.5 miles west of the airfield at 1,200 ft agl. The pilot decided to land off the airfield. The pilot entered the pattern using the glider's spoilers and turned from the downwind leg to the base leg at 700 ft agl. He reported that he allowed the glider's flightpath to take him .5 mile too far downwind. During the base leg of the pattern, he reported that he had to "crab the airplane into the wind" to avoid being pushed further downwind. On final, the glider descended rapidly and collided with trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 190° at 15 knots. He attempted to land on a heading of 170°. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.