Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 accident near Sterling, Colorado, October 4, 1996
On October 4, 1996 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59 (glider), registered N597R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sterling, Colorado (Sterling Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of control when the pilot exceeded the velocity of stall while in a turn.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1996 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sterling, Colorado · Sterling Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl-Bielsko SZD-59
- Registration
- N597R · no longer on the register · serial B-2164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While returning to land after a practice aerobatics flight, the pilot flew the glider down the runway of intended landing at 100 feet above ground level and then entered a 45 degree bank left turn. The nose began to drop and the bank angle increased to about 60 degrees and the glider dove into the ground next to the runway with a nose attitude of approximately 60 degrees nose down. At the time, the glider tow plane was back taxiing on the runway. Terrain around the airport was flat grass covered farm fields.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 543 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 838 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,730 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from AKO, 34 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.