# NTSB CEN09CA434: Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, N592JD, Durango, CO, July 12, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 12, 2009, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Coordinates: 37.336387, -107.851112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3364&lon=-107.8511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA434
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74264/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74264
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA434

## Probable cause

The glider pilot's decision to perform a low-altitude 360-degree turn while on final approach to land.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=8821649), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8821649), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Air traffic/operating proc: traffic congestion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070/cases.md?model=8821649), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03014070/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8821649), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8821649), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The glider pilot entered a right downwind and turned right base, then to final to land north at the airport. He noticed the tow plane on the runway taking off to the south. The pilot elected to make an abrupt right 360 degree turn at about 80 feet above ground level and contacted trees. The glider was destroyed and the pilot sustained serious injuries.

## Factual narrative

The glider pilot entered a right downwind and turned right base, then to final to land north at the Airport. He noticed the tow plane on the runway taking off south bound. The pilot elected to make an abrupt right 360 degree turn at about 80 feet above ground level and contacted trees. The glider was destroyed and the pilot sustained serious non life threatening injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N592JD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N592JD-2009-09-08), registration cancelled 2009-09-08, S/N B-2158, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PDPS PZL-BIELSKO SZD-59
- Registry model: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-59) (registry code 8821649) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: B-2158
- Airframe hours: 711
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 2009
- Departed: CD82, Durango, CO
- Destination: CD82, Durango, CO
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: CD82, Val Air Airport, runway 35, 3,515 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; private; last flight review September 14, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 194 total, 93 in this make and model, 131 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observed at: KDRO, 12 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 20090712010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090712010369A), Jul 12, 2009: Szd SZD59, Durango, CO, Destroyed. The pilot was on approach to land runway 17. When the pilot turned final he saw a tow plane with a glider taking-off runway 35. The pilot turned right to avoid…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74264. 526 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 526 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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