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| Date: | Wednesday 23 September 1998 |
| Time: | 16:19 LT |
| Type: |  Politechnika Warszawska PW-5 Smyk |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N110WN |
| MSN: | 001 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 15 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Waller, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Bryan, TX (KCFD) |
| (89TA) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The amateur-built experimental glider collided with terrain during the final approach to landing in a pasture. During the cross-country flight, the pilot/builder had radioed to the driver of his ground chase vehicle that he was too low to continue towards his intended destination. The pilot further radioed that he had selected a pasture and was 'landing out.' A witness, who was seated on the front porch of his house, observed the glider coming toward him. The glider made a 'sharp' left turn away from the house, the left wing tip struck the ground, and the left wing separated. The nose of the glider then impacted the ground 'hard at a fairly steep angle,' and the glider slid to a stop. The pilot had a total flight time in gliders of 1,661 hours, of which 15 hours were in the accident glider.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW98LA406
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 26-Nov-2011 13:04 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Operator, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 06-Apr-2024 06:05 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
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