# NTSB NYC06CA076: PZL-Swidnik PW-5, N153PS, Hardwick, NJ, March 4, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 4, 2006, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Hardwick, NJ
- Coordinates: 40.974445, -75.107498
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9744&lon=-75.1075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63315/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA076

## Probable cause

A loss of lift which resulted in a forced landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - weather condition - no thermal lift (cause)
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - terrain condition - rising

## Analysis

According to the pilot, after about 2 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the return leg to the departure airport, he attempted to cross a valley were he encountered "strong turbulent air pushing the glider down."  The pilot was able to transition through the valley but was unable to find any "substantial lift" on the opposite side.  Unable to locate a suitable forced landing area, the pilot performed a forced landing into trees.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, after about 2 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the return leg to the departure airport, the pilot attempted to cross a valley were he encountered "strong turbulent air pushing the glider down."  The pilot was able to transition through the valley but was unable to find any "substantial lift" on the opposite side.  Unable to locate a suitable forced landing area, the pilot performed a forced landing into trees.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N153PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N153PS-2007-01-08), registration cancelled 2007-01-08, S/N 17.10.025, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PZL-Swidnik PW-5
- 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: 17-10-025
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 1N7, Blairstown, NJ
- Destination: 1N7
- Airport: 1N7, Blairstown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; last flight review May 1, 2004; flight hours: 300 total, 250 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Observed at: 12N

## 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 20060304002649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060304002649A), Mar 4, 2006: Amtr PW5GLIDER, Hardwick, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) While operating 14 CFR part 91, the pilot was ridge-flying with the glider when he became positioned between two ridge lines. Because of this he lost…

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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