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July 18, 2004 · Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3 · N19SZ

Lone Pine, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 18, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Lone Pine, CA
Aircraft
Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3
Tail Number
N19SZ
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX04CA270

The glider collided with a tree during landing, and the right wing was torn from the fuselage. After clearing a set of power lines, the glider was 15 feet agl. The pilot saw a tree, and the glider drifted to the right of the runway centerline. He misjudged the clearance between the tree and the wing, and a collision occurred. The glider spun 270 degrees from its original flight path before coming to rest. The pilot recommended flying a higher approach to prevent future accidents. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunctions with the glider prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot failed to maintain runway alignment, and misjudged the clearance between the tree and the wing resulting in a collision with the tree.

Full Narrative

On July 18, 2004, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, a PDPS PZL-BIELSKO SZD-50-3 glider, N19SZ, collided with a tree during landing at the Lone Pine Airport, Lone Pine, California. Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California, Inc., was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one pilot-rated passenger were not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area flight. The glider departed through the assistance of a tow plane from the Lone Pine Airport about 1330. The pilot reported that during landing, the glider cleared a set of power lines. At 15 feet above ground level, the right wing impacted a tree branch; the glider spun around and came to rest 270 degrees from the original flight path. To prevent future accidents the pilot recommended flying a higher approach. The pilot noted no mechanical malfunctions with the glider prior to the accident. In a separate conversation, the pilot reported that he misjudged the clearance between the glider and the tree. During final, the glider drifted from the runway centerline to the right. The wing of the glider impacted the tree. The right wing was torn from the fuselage during the collision sequence.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 PDT
Nearest AirportLONEPINE (0nm)
Runway13
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftPdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3
Tail NumberN19SZ
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines0

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 58 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data