# NTSB ERA16CA227: Pezetel SZD 48-1JANTAR STD 2, N438QA, Maysville, WV, June 12, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 12, 2016, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Maysville, WV - Coordinates: 39.073055, -79.259445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0731&lon=-79.2594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93432/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93432 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA227 ## Probable cause The glider's encounter with insufficient atmospheric lift conditions where the lift was not sufficient to maintain soaring flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md?model=8821650), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=8821650), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8821650), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=8821650), [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: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=8821650), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8821650), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the glider reported that, during a long distance ridgeline soaring flight, he encountered a loss of lift and dropped below the ridgeline. Unable to find another updraft, he was forced to land in an open field with tall grass. As the glider touched down, the landing gear struck a large hole that was concealed by the grass, shearing off the landing gear and causing a ground loop when the left wing struck the ground. The fuselage and tail were substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the glider reported that during a long distance ridgeline soaring flight, he encountered a loss of lift and dropped below the ridgeline. Unable to find another updraft, he was forced to land in an open field, with tall grass. As the glider touched down, the landing gear struck a large hole that was concealed by the grass, shearing off the landing gear and causing a ground loop when the left wing struck the ground. The fuselage and tail were substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N438QA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N438QA-2025-08-18), registration cancelled 2025-08-18, S/N W 908 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PEZETEL SZD 48-1JANTAR STD 2 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/pezetel-szd-48-1jantar-std-2) (registry code 8821650) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: W 908 - Year built: 1979 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2015, 2,210 hours before - Departed: 79N, UNIONVILLE, PA - Destination: 79N, UNIONVILLE, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review June 11, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 700 total, 200 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 17 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KW99, 8 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 20160612013509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160612013509A), Jun 12, 2016: Pezetel SZD-48-1JANTAR STD 2, Maysville, WV, Substantial damage. Pilot lost lift while on a flight originating at ridge soaring, Pennsylvania. The weather conditions at the time of the event were VMC with a slightly… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93432. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 776 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Summary of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Summary%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Investigation Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 4 photos, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.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.