# NTSB LAX98LA293: PZL-Bielsko SZD-59, N59SE, Truckee, CA, September 14, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1998, 14:08 local (21:08 UTC)
- Place: Truckee, CA
- Coordinates: 39.329372, -120.239028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3294&lon=-120.2390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43958
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA293
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43958/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA293

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed which resulted in a inadvertent stall/spin.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - weather condition - no thermal lift
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot was approximately 350 feet over the trees and was having trouble gaining lift.  He reported that he made a turn, slowed his airspeed to 46 knots, and applied excessive rudder in the turn.  The glider entered a spin and subsequently impacted a grove of pine trees that were approximately 70 feet agl.  The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical discrepancies, but stated that he should have monitored his airspeed more carefully and should have been more careful with turn coordination.

## Factual narrative

On September 14, 1998, at 1408 hours Pacific daylight time, a PDPS PZL-Bielsko SZD-59 glider, N59SE, impacted hilly terrain 2 miles northeast of the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, Truckee, California.  The aircraft was destroyed and the private pilot, the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries.  The personal flight originated at the Truckee Airport at 1352, and no flight plan was filed.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that within 5 to 10 minutes of tow release, he was approximately 350 feet over the trees and was having trouble gaining lift.  He reported that he made a 180-degree turn, slowed his airspeed to 46 knots, and applied "excessive rudder" in the turn.  The glider entered a spin and subsequently impacted a grove of pine trees that were approximately 70 feet agl.  The pilot did not report experiencing any mechanical discrepancies with the aircraft prior to the accident, but stated that he should have monitored his airspeed more carefully, and should have been more careful with turn coordination.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59SE-2001-12-05), registration cancelled 2001-12-05, S/N B-2166, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PZL-Bielsko SZD-59
- Registry model: [Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59](https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-59) (registry code 8821649) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: B-2166
- Airframe hours: 272
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eric June
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1998, 98 hours before
- Departed: TRK, TRUCKEE, CA
- Airport: TRK, Truckee-Tahoe

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; seat: front; flight hours: 113 total, 42 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19980914024009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980914024009A), Sep 14, 1998: Szd SZD59, Truckee, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft lost power after takeoff from cashmere - dryden airport (S82). Pilot stated that he attempted to return to cashmere airport but lost control of…

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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