# NTSB GAA19CA338: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, N962JH, Independence, WI, June 10, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 10, 2019, 14:49 local (19:49 UTC)
- Place: Independence, WI
- Coordinates: 44.36222, -91.391387 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3622&lon=-91.3914&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 November 6, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA338
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99621/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99621
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA338

## Probable cause

The separation of the canopy from the glider during an off-airport landing for reasons that could not be determined.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Windows-windshield system: flight compartment windows](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035610/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: [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: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the glider reported that, en route to his destination, the glider lost lift, so he diverted to a corn field for landing. During the landing, the glider bounced, and "the canopy popped off of the fuselage" and broke into several pieces. The glider sustained substantial damage to the canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the glider that would have precluded normal operation. Although the pilot said he bumped the canopy during the bounced landing, it could not be determined if that or some other mechanism caused the canopy to separate.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the glider reported that, while landing in a corn field, "the canopy popped off of the fuselage" and broke into several pieces. The glider sustained substantial damage to the canopy. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N962JH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PZL-SWIDNIK PW-5
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 17.07.018
- Year built: 1997
- Airframe hours: 407
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2018
- Departed: SYN, Stanton, MN
- Destination: BCK, Black River Falls, WI
- Equipment: Data recorder

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; last flight review September 17, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 368 total, 158 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 19.1 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KBCK, 24 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99621. 785 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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