Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 N81799

Summary

On 12 May 2013 at about 20:25 local time, a Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 registered N81799, operated by Zlatko Sitar, was involved in an accident near Henderson, 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

12 May 2013 at 20:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Henderson, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

36.2453, -78.3089

Aircraft

Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1

Registration

N81799

Category

Glider

Operator

Zlatko Sitar

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisburg → Louisburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13CA272

Nobody was injured.

A loss of aerodynamic lift that resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had been soaring in his glider for approximately 3 hours. While returning to the airport, the glider encountered a sink and had descended 2,500 feet before the pilot was able to find a more favorable air mass. At that time, the glider was too low to fly to the airport and the pilot elected to land in a field. While on final approach, the pilot noticed that the field had deep ruts; however, he was committed to landing at that point. During the landing, the left wing struck a rut and the glider ground-looped, which partially separated the tailboom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.