# NTSB FTW04LA103: Pdps PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3, N18SZ, Cherry Valley, AR, April 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2004, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Cherry Valley, AR - Coordinates: 35.370834, -90.750556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3708&lon=-90.7506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58996 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58996/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During an attempted landing to a field, the glider stalled and impacted the terrain. While on downwind to the gliderport, the pilot noticed another glider and tow airplane on the runway. The pilot elected to extend the downwind leg to allow the tow airplane and glider to depart the gliderport. After turning to final approach to the runway, the glider encountered an unexpected headwind. During the final approach, the pilot noticed a row of trees in front of the glider that he thought he would not be able to clear. The pilot turned the glider to the right and initiated a landing to an adjacent field. During the attempted landing, "[The pilot] allowed the airspeed to get too slow. At an altitude of about 30 feet agl, the glider stalled, spun to the right, and crashed into the field..." ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2004, approximately 1400 central daylight time, a PDPS PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 glider, N18SZ, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain following a loss of control during a forced landing near the Lawrence Field Gliderport (4AR5), near Cherry Valley, Arkansas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The glider was registered to and operated by the Memphis Soaring Society, Inc., of Memphis, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local soaring flight departed the Lawrence Field Gliderport approximately 1330. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot was towed by an airplane to approximately 3,000 feet above ground level (agl) and released. After attempting to soar and unable to find lift, the pilot returned to the gliderport. While on downwind to the gliderport, the pilot noticed another glider and tow airplane on the runway. The pilot elected to extend the downwind leg to allow the tow airplane and glider to depart the gliderport. After turning to final approach to runway 7, the glider encountered an unexpected headwind. During the final approach, the pilot noticed a row of trees in front of the glider that he thought he would not be able to clear. The pilot turned the glider to the right and initiated a landing to an adjacent field. During the attempted landing, "[The pilot] allowed the airspeed to get too slow. At an altitude of about 30 feet agl, the glider stalled, spun to the right, and crashed into the field..." Examination of glider by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the nose structure was destroyed, the left wing spar was fractured, and the empennage was buckled. At 1353, the Jonesboro Municipal Airport, Jonesboro, Arkansas, automated surface observing system, located approximately 25 miles north of the accident site, report the wind from 010 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 17 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 61 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 31 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.16 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18SZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18SZ-2007-05-23), registration cancelled 2007-05-23, S/N B2116, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PDPS PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3 - Registry model: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-50-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-50-3) (registry code 8821647) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: B-2116 - Airframe hours: 908 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Memphis Soaring Society, Inc. - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 2004, 1 hours before - Departed: 4AR5, Cherry Valley, AR - Destination: 4AR5 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 8, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 265 total, 10 in this make and model, 141 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 25 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 20040404009349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040404009349A), Apr 4, 2004: Pdp SZD503, Cherry Valley, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On 04/04/2004 at approximately 1400 local Mr. Herman sanders was flying glider N18SZ at the memphis soaring society in Cherry Valley, Arkansas. During… 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.