# NTSB GAA18CA382: Pzl-Swidnik PW 5, N123PW, Waller, TX, June 23, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2018, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Waller, TX - Coordinates: 30.192777, -95.963333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1928&lon=-95.9633&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97618/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97618 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA382 ## Probable cause The glider pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/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); 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) - [Approach: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); 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 According to the glider pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the glider had reached 2,000 ft above ground level (agl), but he was unable to find more lift. The glider was about 1.5 miles west of the airfield, and he decided to continue west in search of lift under a cloud formation. He did not find lift and returned to his previous position 1.5 miles west of the airfield at 1,200 ft agl. The pilot decided to land off the airfield. The pilot entered the pattern using the glider's spoilers and turned from the downwind leg to the base leg at 700 ft agl. He reported that he allowed the glider's flightpath to take him .5 mile too far downwind. During the base leg of the pattern, he reported that he had to "crab the airplane into the wind" to avoid being pushed further downwind. On final, the glider descended rapidly and collided with trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 190° at 15 knots. He attempted to land on a heading of 170°. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the glider pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the glider had ascended to 2,000ft AGL, but he was unable to find more lift. The glider was about 1.5 miles west of the airfield, and he decided to continue west in search of lift under a cloud formation. He did not find lift and returned to his previous position 1.5 miles west of the airfield, but his altitude was 1,200ft AGL. The pilot decided to land off the airfield. The pilot entered the pattern using the glider's spoilers and turned from downwind to base at 700ft AGL. He reported that he allowed the glider's flight path to take him .5 miles too far downwind. He attributed his miscalculation to his fascination with the altimeter, instead of flying the glider. During the base leg of the pattern, he reported that he had to, "crab the airplane into the wind" to avoid being pushed further downwind. On final the glider encountered a headwind, descended rapidly and collided with trees. The glider sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 190° at 15 knots. He attempted to land on a heading of 170°. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123PW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123PW), registered now, S/N 1705024, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PZL-SWIDNIK PW 5 (NO SERIES) - 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: 1705024 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 299 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2017 - Departed: 89TA, Waller, TX - Destination: 89TA, Waller, TX - Airport: 89TA, Soaring Club Of Houston - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; last flight review January 18, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 210 total, 151 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: K11R, 21 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 20180623008469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180623008469A), Jun 23, 2018: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, Waller, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft struck the trees on the north end of the runway while on approach at 89TA. Pilot was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97618. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.