# NTSB ATL98LA051: PZL-Bielsko SZD-48-3, N25MZ, Pikeville, TN, February 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 1998, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Pikeville, TN - Coordinates: 35.599899, -85.190818 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5999&lon=-85.1908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3976 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3976/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA051 ## Probable cause The loss of thermal lift. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Forced landing, cruise - weather condition - no thermal lift (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot stated he proceeded at 3,500 feet AGL to the western plateau where the thermal activity became about 2-4 knots of lift and 4-6 knots of sink. According to the pilot, the lifts were ill-defined, and he flew mostly into sinks. As his altitude decreased to 2,500 feet AGL, he turned back to the departure airport. The glider continued to experience 4-6 knots of sink, so the pilot stated he began looking for a suitable field for landing. He overflew the landing field at 2,000 feet AGL and determined there was a fairly constant 6 knot sink. As he approached the field, he stated the sink increased, and he collided with trees at the approach end of his desired landing field. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 1998, at 1500 eastern standard time, a PDPS PZL-BIELSKO SZD-48-3, N25MZ, collided with the trees during approach to landing in Pikeville, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The glider sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated in Whitwell, Tennessee at 1330. According to the FAA inspector, the glider lost thermal lift while soaring which led the pilot to attempt an emergency off-airport landing. During the descent, the glider collided with a tree. According to the pilot, he took an aerotow to the eastern edge of the valley and released at 3,500 feet above ground level (AGL). The pilot then flew approximately 22 miles to Crossville Airport, which he crossed at 3,000-3,500 feet AGL. The pilot stated he then proceeded to the western plateau where the thermal activity became about 2-4 knots of lift and 4-6 knots of sink. According to the pilot, the lifts were ill defined, and he flew mostly into sinks. As his altitude decreased to 2,500 feet AGL, he turned back to Pikeville. The glider continued to experience 4-6 knots of sink, so the pilot stated he began looking for a suitable field for landing. He overflew the landing field at 2,000 feet AGL and determined there was a fairly constant 6 knot sink. He stated he did not lower the landing gear or extend the spoilers in order to reduce drag. As he approached the field, he stated the sink increased, and he collided with trees at the approach end of his desired landing field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25MZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25MZ-2013-10-31), registration cancelled 2013-10-31, S/N B-2074, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL-Bielsko SZD-48-3 - Registry model: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-48-3) (registry code 8821646) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: B-2074 - Airframe hours: 123 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Maciej Z. Pandera - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1997, 16 hours before - Departed: PVT, WHITWELL, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 268 total, 123 in this make and model, 191 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 35 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980221003859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980221003859A), Feb 21, 1998: Szd SZD48, Pikeville, TN, Substantial damage. Lost thermal. Struck trees on approach to an open field. (-23) after losing thermal lift during thermal soaring, the pilot of a pdps pzl-bielsko Szd-48-3,… 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. --- 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.