# Accident 20180414003679A: S.Z.D. SZD-48 JANTAR STD 2, Labelle, FL, April 14, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2018, 15:41 local time
- Place: Labelle, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7278° N, 81.4206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7278&lon=-81.4206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N456RM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N456RM-2018-12-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: S.Z.D. SZD-48 JANTAR STD 2 (registry code 8821648, https://openairdocs.org/model/s-z-d-szd-48-jantar-std-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: S.Z.D. SZD-48 JANTAR STD 2
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180414003679A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WHILE ON A RECREATIONAL GLIDER FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS BEING TOWED UP TO A PLANNED ALTITUDE OF 3000 FT.  SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE THEY BEGAN THEIR LEFT TURN TO SPIRAL UP OVER THE FIELD. AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FT THEY HIT A THERMAL AND IT WAS PULLING THE GLIDER UP RAPIDLY AND ALSO PULLING ON THE TAIL OF THE TOW PLANE.  THE GLIDER AUTOMATICALLY RELEASED FROM THE TOW LINE AND BEGAN TO SPIRAL DOWN TO THE GROUND, CRASHING INVERTED AND ENDING RIGHT SIDE UP DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT AND KILLING THE PILOT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA18FA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA128), Apr 14, 2018: S.Z.D. SZD 48 Jantar STD 2 (N456RM), LaBelle, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.