Pzl-Bielsko SZD 50-3 accident near California City, CA
On July 17, 1998, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD 50-3 (glider) was involved in an accident near California City, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 17, 1998
- Place
- California City, CA
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Bielsko SZD 50-3 · Glider
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.150°N, 117.919°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10620
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 17, 1998, at 1507 hours Pacific daylight time, a PZL-BIELSKO Model SZD 50-3 glider, N7215L, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering 2 miles west of the California City, California airport. The commercial licensed first pilot and the airline transport licensed second pilot were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from California City about 1448. The pilot of another glider, flying about 4 miles north of the accident location, reported his attention was drawn to the accident aircraft by the sun glistening off the wings as the aircraft spun, nose low, approximately 3 revolutions before impacting the desert floor. He acknowledged difficulty seeing the aircraft at that distance but believed that the pitch attitude was 80 to 90 degrees nose down. He did not see the spin entry maneuver and was uncertain of the direction of the spin. The aircraft was owned and operated by a private flying club. According to a spokesman for the operator, both pilots met Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensing regulations to pilot the glider. The flying club had an additional requirement, however, that prior to a pilot flying a type glider not previously flown, the pilot must fly an orientation flight with another pilot who is qualified in the type. The purpose of the accident flight was to familiarize the second pilot with the new type glider, which he had not previously flown. The two pilots had performed one flight with the second pilot in the front seat and were on a second flight wi
Probable cause
The failure of the first and/or second pilot to obtain and maintain control of the aircraft after stalling and entering a spin.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
