Pzl-Swidnik PW 6U N212EC
14 August 2016 · Llano, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 14 August 2016 at about 18:30 local time, a Pzl-Swidnik PW 6U registered N212EC, operated by Cypress Soaring Inc, was involved in an accident near Llano, California, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Llano, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Crystal (46CN)
- Coordinates
- 34.4847, -117.8264
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Swidnik PW 6U
- Registration
- N212EC
- Category
- Glider
- Year built
- 2003
- Operator
- Cypress Soaring Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Llano → Llano
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA16CA430
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to properly secure the two aft canopy latches during the preflight inspection, which resulted in the canopy separating from the glider during the takeoff roll and substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the glider pilot, while being towed during the takeoff roll, the glider encountered a bump and he heard a loud bang. He reported that he was contacted by radio and informed that the aft canopy had separated from the glider. The pilot recalled that although the glider controllability was normal he communicated with the tow airplane pilot, executed one pattern and landed the glider. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection he failed to properly close and lock the two canopy latches for the aft canopy. The glider sustained substantial damage to the aft canopy and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that were no mechanical failures or anomalies with any portion of the glider that would have prevented normal flight operations.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2016 | Joe Salomone SUPER CUB SQ2 | Boca Reservoir, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Dec 2016 | Cessna T210M | Mecca, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2016 | Siai-Marchetti SF260 | Fullerton, California, United States | Air Combat, USA | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Dec 2016 | Bombardier CL 600 2B19 | San Francisco, California, United States | Skywest Airlines Inc | Unknown | - |
| 24 Aug 2016 | Cessna 182 | Fallbrook, California, United States | Civil Air Patrol Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Cessna 172 | San Diego, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |