Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 N817V

Summary

On 28 May 2012 at about 18:00 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

28 May 2012 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mocksville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Bahson Gliderport (43NC)

Coordinates

36.0192, -80.5097

Aircraft

Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1

Registration

N817V

Category

Glider

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

ERA12CA378

Nobody was injured.

The glider pilot's failure to attain and maintain directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, the glider's heading differed about 5 degrees from that of the towplane when the towplane began its takeoff roll. The pilot used rudder to correct the heading, but the glider dragged a wing and yawed 70 degrees to its right. The glider lifted 3 to 5 feet above the runway, the pilot released the tow, the glider touched down in a sideslip, and the resultant side load on the tail landing gear "buckled the tailboom 90 [degrees]." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the glider that would have prevented normal operation, and that the accident might have been prevented by ensuring alignment of the glider with the towplane prior to the takeoff roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.