# NTSB LAX03LA165: PZL-Bielsko SZD-50-3, N503HC, Minden, NV, May 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2003, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.000278, -119.750831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0003&lon=-119.7508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57058/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA165 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to adequately supervise the student, which resulted in the improper deployment of the spoilers by the student. A factor was the high vegetation on the landing surface. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - spoiler extension - improper, dual student (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis As the glider, in tow, turned right downwind at 500 feet above ground level (agl), the student deployed the spoilers. The certified flight instructor (CFI) released the glider from the tow plane, and locked and closed the spoiler handle. According to the CFI, she wanted to land on a runway at the airport, but the student was "frozen" on the flight controls. By the time he released the controls, it was not possible to reach the runway, so the CFI executed a forced landing on an airport access road. Prior to touchdown, the left wing struck a 4-foot-tall sagebush, the glider turned, and impacted on the shoulder of the road. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2003, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a PZL Bielsko SZD-50-3 nonpowered glider, N503HC, collided with obstacles and terrain during the landing approach to an open road at the Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. The glider was registered to a private individual and operated by High Country Soaring, Minden, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI), and the commercial airplane pilot receiving instruction were not injured; the glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local instructional flight departed Minden about 1325. According to the CFI, the glider, in tow, departed runway 30 with the intention of practicing takeoffs and landings. As they turned right downwind at 500 feet above ground level (agl), the student deployed the spoilers. The CFI released the glider from the tow plane and locked and closed the spoiler handle. She declared they would land on runway 21, but the student turned them away from the airport. The student was "frozen" on the controls and would not allow her to turn back to the airport. The student eventually released the controls, but the glider was too far away from the airport to make the runway. The CFI then executed a forced landing on an open road. On final approach, the left wing struck a 4-foot-tall sagebush, the glider turned, and impacted off the side of the road. According to the student pilot, the glider was high and to the left of the tow plane, so he deployed the spoilers in an attempt to correct the situation. The CFI released the glider from tow while the glider was equal distance from runways 16 and 12. The CFI determined that they would not make either of the runways, and flew the approach to an access road on airport property. Prior to touchdown, the left wing struck a sagebush, resulting in the glider impacting on the shoulder of the road. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N503HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N503HC-2010-05-05), registration cancelled 2010-05-05, S/N B-2098, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: 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: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: B-2098 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: High Country Soaring - Registered owner: Jay Mazure - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: MEV, Minden, NV - Destination: MEV, Minden, NV - Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 14, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,695 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,590 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 25, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 440 total, 1 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 30 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 20030526010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030526010939A), May 26, 2003: Pdp SZD503, Minden, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 26, 2003, at approximately 13:38 PDT, dana m. peirson, flight instructor and gregg e. maryniak a private pilot receiving glider instruction… 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.