Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 accident near Uvalde, TX
On August 12, 2001, a Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 (glider) was involved in an accident near Uvalde, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 12, 2001
- Place
- Uvalde, TX
- Aircraft
- Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-55-1 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 29.223°N, 99.751°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010815X01694
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 12, 2001, approximately 1745 central daylight time, a PDPS PZL-Bielsko SZD-55-1 glider, N55VW, was destroyed after it impacted terrain following a loss of control while on approach to Uvalde Garner Field Airport (UVA) near Uvalde, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained fatal injuries. The glider was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The soaring flight departed from UVA, approximately 1415. The owner of the aircraft, who was in radio contact with the pilot, reported that the pilot had completed the third leg of a soaring 300 km triangle and was inbound for UVA. Approximately 8 miles from the airport, the pilot stated he had the field in sight. Subsequently, the pilot reported that he was on downwind for runway 15. The owner observed the glider turning base and then the glider "stalled and spun 1 and 1/2 rotations" before impacting the ground. A witness reported that the glider banked, "appeared to have stalled, and spiraled counter-clockwise" in a nose low attitude into the ground. Another witness, located approximately a block from the accident site, stated that she "looked up and saw the glider spinning counter-clockwise very fast and falling nose first." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot was issued a commercial pilot certificate on May 22, 2001. The pilot held airplane single and multi-engine land, airplane instrument, glider, and glider flight instructo
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the base turn, which resulted in an inadvertant stall/spin.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
