Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 accident near Durango, Colorado, July 12, 2009
On July 12, 2009 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 (glider), registered N592JD, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Durango, Colorado (Val Air Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider pilot's decision to perform a low-altitude 360-degree turn while on final approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2009 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Val Air Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 · all SZD-59s on the register
- Registration
- N592JD · no longer on the register · serial B-2158
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The glider pilot entered a right downwind and turned right base, then to final to land north at the airport. He noticed the tow plane on the runway taking off to the south. The pilot elected to make an abrupt right 360 degree turn at about 80 feet above ground level and contacted trees. The glider was destroyed and the pilot sustained serious injuries.
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
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › Traffic congestion › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 194 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 131 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 14, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 711 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2009
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: CD82 Durango CO
- Destination: CD82 Durango CO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 3,515 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KDRO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN09CA434.