# Accident 20260523008239A: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, Ephrata, WA, May 23, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2026, 16:25 local time
- Place: Ephrata, WA
- Airport: Ephrata Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3884° N, 119.5221° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3884&lon=-119.5221&mi=10
- Aircraft: N157AJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N157AJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 (registry code 9810150, https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-swidnik-pw-5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PZL-SWIDNIK PW-5
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 48 total, 18 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA203) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260523008239A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN PABLO A. AGUILAR VERGARA ACTED AS PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NEAR EPHRATA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KEPH), EPHRATA, WASHINGTON, ON MAY 23, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1625 PDT.

ACCORDING TO THE PIC'S WRITTEN STATEMENT AND A FOLLOW-UP TELEPHONE INTERVIEW CONDUCTED ON JULY 23, 2026, PABLO AND TWO OTHER PILOTS FROM THE PUGET SOUND SOARING ASSOCIATION (PSSA) ASSEMBLED THE AIRCRAFT BY INSTALLING THE WINGS AND COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION. DURING THE INSPECTION, THEY DID NOT DETECT THAT THE RIGHT-WING LOCKING PIN WAS ONLY PARTIALLY INSERTED AND WAS NOT FULLY ENGAGED.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS AEROTOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 4,200 FEET MSL, WHERE THE TOW ROPE WAS RELEASED. WHILE CIRCLING AND CLIMBING TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET MSL, THE PIC HEARD A SHARP CRACKING SOUND. THE PIC SUBSEQUENTLY CONDUCTED A NORMAL LANDING AT KEPH WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

FOLLOWING LANDING, THE PIC PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND OBSERVED A PUNCTURE IN THE FUSELAGE AND DELAMINATION DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT-WING SPAR ROOT BOX.

## 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 WPR26LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA203), May 23, 2026: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 (N157AJ), Soap Lake, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure the proper preflight assembly of the glider's wing attachment system, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure during flight.

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.

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