Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3 N503HC

Summary

On 26 May 2003 at about 20:30 local time, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3 registered N503HC, operated by High Country Soaring, was involved in an accident near Minden, Nevada, United States. 2 people were 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

26 May 2003 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Minden, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV)

Coordinates

39.0003, -119.7508

Aircraft

Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3

Registration

N503HC

Category

Glider

Operator

High Country Soaring

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minden → Minden

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX03LA165

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's failure to adequately supervise the student, which resulted in the improper deployment of the spoilers by the student. A factor was the high vegetation on the landing surface.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

As the glider, in tow, turned right downwind at 500 feet above ground level (agl), the student deployed the spoilers. The certified flight instructor (CFI) released the glider from the tow plane, and locked and closed the spoiler handle. According to the CFI, she wanted to land on a runway at the airport, but the student was "frozen" on the flight controls. By the time he released the controls, it was not possible to reach the runway, so the CFI executed a forced landing on an airport access road. Prior to touchdown, the left wing struck a 4-foot-tall sagebush, the glider turned, and impacted on the shoulder of the road.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.