Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3 accident near Pikeville, Tennessee, February 21, 1998
On February 21, 1998 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3 (glider), registered N25MZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pikeville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of thermal lift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1998 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pikeville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Bielsko SZD-48-3
- Registration
- N25MZ · no longer on the register · serial B-2074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he proceeded at 3,500 feet AGL to the western plateau where the thermal activity became about 2-4 knots of lift and 4-6 knots of sink. According to the pilot, the lifts were ill-defined, and he flew mostly into sinks. As his altitude decreased to 2,500 feet AGL, he turned back to the departure airport. The glider continued to experience 4-6 knots of sink, so the pilot stated he began looking for a suitable field for landing. He overflew the landing field at 2,000 feet AGL and determined there was a fairly constant 6 knot sink. As he approached the field, he stated the sink increased, and he collided with trees at the approach end of his desired landing field.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 191 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1997; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,191 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Whitwell TN at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from CHA, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.