# NTSB CEN25LA271: PZL Swidnik PW-5, N4426Z, Kerrick, TX, July 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 19, 2025, 13:36 local (18:36 UTC) - Place: Kerrick, TX - Coordinates: 36.508359, -102.39212 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5084&lon=-102.3921&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA271 ## Probable cause The glider’s encounter with atmospheric conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain flight. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying his glider, he was unable to maintain enough altitude to return to the departure airport, so he performed a forced landing to an alternate airport with a closed runway. During the landing rollout, the right wing of the glider struck a metal fence post, The glider pivoted and the left wing struck the barbed wire. The pilot said that he did not see the fence post because of the vegetation covering it. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4426Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4426Z-2026-09-09), registration cancelled 2026-09-09, S/N 17.09.012, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL SWIDNIK PW-5 - Registry model: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/pzl-swidnik-pw-5) (registry code 9810150) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 17.09.012 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 2034 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 22, 2025 - Departed: 89TA, Waller, TX - Destination: 89TA, Waller, TX - Airport: 5TE4, Perkins-Protho Cimarron Ranch Airport, runway 19, 2,500 × 35 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2025; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,400 total, 22 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KIAH, 35 nm away - METAR: KIAH 191853Z VRB06KT 10SM FEW048 SCT060 SCT090 BKN250 34/22 A3007 ## 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 20250719010259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250719010259A), Jul 19, 2025: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. Aircraft was conducting glider operations when the pilot was unable to maintain sufficient altitude to return to the departure airport runway. The pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200600. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19127020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=digitalform%20(2)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19129226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20-%20Pilot%20Phone%20Conversation%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19129136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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. --- 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.