# NTSB DFW06CA139: Allstar PZL SZD 51-1 Junior, N751MS, Cherry Valley, AR, May 24, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2006, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Cherry Valley, AR - Coordinates: 35.369167, -90.750274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3692&lon=-90.7503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, Arkansas - NTSB case key (mKey): 63762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63762/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while on final to approach to landing. A contributing factor was the loss of thermal lift on final approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command - weather condition - no thermal lift (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis After a glider flight of approximately one hour, the 4,674-hour commercial pilot was on final approach to land to the 3,638-foot long by 300-foot wide grass/turf runway. While on short final, the single-seat composite glider encountered "severe sink" and the left wingtip impacted a tree. The glider "cartwheeled" and came to rest in the upright position on the approach end of the runway 25. The pilot was extricated by rescue personal, who later reported his injuries as minor. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane's flight controls. The pilot reported having accumulated 10 hours in the same make and model, with a total of 31.6 hours in gliders. The reported wind at the nearest airport with a weather reporting station, located about 35 nautical miles north of the accident site, were reported from 220 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot recommended that glider pilots use an "aim point" at least 800 feet further down the runway when landing in the future. ## Factual narrative After a glider flight of approximately one hour, the 4,674-hour commercial pilot was on final approach to land to the 3,638-foot long by 300-foot wide grass/turf runway. While on short final, the single-seat composite glider encountered "severe sink" and the left wingtip impacted a tree. The glider "cartwheeled" and came to rest in the upright position on the approach end of the runway 25. The pilot was extricated by rescue personal, who later reported his injuries as minor. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the airplane's flight controls. The pilot reported having accumulated 10 hours in the same make and model, with a total of 31.6 hours in gliders. The reported wind at the nearest airport with a weather reporting station, located about 35 nautical miles north of the accident site, were reported from 220 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot recommended that glider pilots use an "aim point" at least 800 feet further down the runway when landing in the future. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N751MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N751MS-2008-06-10), registration cancelled 2008-06-10, S/N 511.A.03.004, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Allstar PZL SZD 51-1 Junior - Registry model: [Allstar PZL Glider SZD 51-1 JUNIOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/allstar-pzl-glider-szd-51-1-junior) (registry code 05617W9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 511.A.03.004 - Airframe hours: 144 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Memphis Soaring Society - Registered owner: Friends Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: 4AR5, Cherry Valley, AR - Airport: 4AR5, Lawrence Field Gliderport, runway 25, 3,900 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 4,674 total, 10 in this make and model, 4,465 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 63 °F ## 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 20060524009609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060524009609A), May 24, 2006: Szd SZD511JUNIOR, Cherry Valley, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that he entered downwind to runway 25 at 1000 feet AGL and at an airspeed of 65 knots he turned from down wind to… 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.