# NTSB WPR14CA219: Pzl-Swidnik PW 5, N77FZ, Enumclaw, WA, May 31, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2014, 18:00 local (May 31, 2014, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Enumclaw, WA - Coordinates: 47.195556, -122.021942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1956&lon=-122.0219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89340/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89340 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA219 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the glider during the landing flare which resulted in a stall and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=9810150), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported while entering the airport traffic pattern, the glider encountered additional lift and he was too high for landing. The pilot attempted to descend by deploying the spoilers and performing a couple of 360 degree turns, however the glider did not lose altitude so he initiated a slip to lose the altitude. Just prior to touchdown, as he aligned the glider to runway heading, it stalled and landed hard. During the landing roll, the right wing struck the ground and the glider ground looped. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported while entering the airport traffic pattern, the glider encountered additional lift and he was too high for landing. The pilot attempted to descend by deploying the spoilers and performing a couple of 360 degree turns, however the glider did not lose altitude so he initiated a slip to lose the altitude. Just prior to touchdown, as he aligned the glider to runway heading, it stalled and landed hard. During the landing roll, the right wing struck the ground and the glider ground looped. The glider sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77FZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77FZ-2019-03-06), registration cancelled 2019-03-06, S/N 1711002 (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: 1711002 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 877 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2014 - Departed: WN76, Enumclaw, WA - Destination: WN76, Enumclaw, WA - Airport: WN76, Bergseth Field, runway 10, 2,100 × 60 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; last flight review September 8, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22 total, 9 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PLU, 17 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 20140530008019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140530008019A), May 30, 2014: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5, Enumclaw, WA, Substantial damage. While on the first flight and landing in a single place glider, the pilot flared higher than normal, stalled, landed hard, and severed the tailboom. The pilot… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89340. 312 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-Redacted.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.