Szybowcowy Zaklad Do SZD-36A accident near Sylacauga, AL
On March 31, 2007, a Szybowcowy Zaklad Do SZD-36A (glider) was involved in an accident near Sylacauga, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 31, 2007
- Place
- Sylacauga, AL
- Aircraft
- Szybowcowy Zaklad Do SZD-36A · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.170°N, 86.303°W
- NTSB ID
- 20070403X00369
NTSB summary
On March 31, 2007, at 1530 central daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Szybowcowy Zakland DO, SZD-36A glider, N6SZ, registered to a private individual, was substantially damaged when both wings failed and separated from the glider during a personal flight in Sylacauga, Alabama. The private pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport (SCD) Sylacauga, Alabama, about 1500. No flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot's brother, they had trucked the glider from Birmingham, Alabama, to Sylacauga, to fly around in the local area. The brother of the pilot stated that he assisted the pilot in assembling the glider prior to the flight. Witnesses stated that the glider had been airborne for about 30 minutes when they observed both wings fold up, and the glider descend out of control until impacting into a rock quarry, about 2 miles south of SCD. The tow plane pilot stated that he towed the glider to altitude and released it. He added that the last time he saw the glider, it was about 1500 feet above the ground. He said he did not observe the breakup, but did see the wings fluttering through the air towards the quarry. The tow plane pilot circled the area looking for the fuselage but could not find it. Witnesses working in the quarry stated that they initially heard what sounded like a "rocket," looked up and saw the fuselage descending at a very fast rate. The fuselage impacted
Probable cause
The pilot's improper installation of the left wing attachment pin, which allowed it to disengage during cruise flight, resulting in wing separation.
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Browse: Alabama
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
