Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3 N25MZ

Summary

On 21 February 1998 at about 20:00 local time, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3 registered N25MZ was involved in an accident near Pikeville, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

21 February 1998 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Pikeville, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.5999, -85.1908

Aircraft

Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3

Registration

N25MZ

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Whitwell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA051

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he proceeded at 3,500 feet AGL to the western plateau where the thermal activity became about 2-4 knots of lift and 4-6 knots of sink. According to the pilot, the lifts were ill-defined, and he flew mostly into sinks. As his altitude decreased to 2,500 feet AGL, he turned back to the departure airport. The glider continued to experience 4-6 knots of sink, so the pilot stated he began looking for a suitable field for landing. He overflew the landing field at 2,000 feet AGL and determined there was a fairly constant 6 knot sink. As he approached the field, he stated the sink increased, and he collided with trees at the approach end of his desired landing field.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.