Pzl PW-5 accident near Yreka, California, August 30, 2003
On August 30, 2003 at about 9:16 pm local time, a Pzl PW-5 (glider), registered N105PS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yreka, California (Siskiyou County airport). 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 pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and failure to maintain airspeed resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2003 · about 9:16 pm local time
- Place
- Yreka, California · Siskiyou County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pzl PW-5
- Registration
- N105PS · no longer on the register · serial 1711018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A glider impacted tree-covered terrain after encountering a downdraft. The glider was released from a tow airplane at 5,600 feet msl and climbed, using thermals, to 7,500 feet msl. The pilot maneuvered to a nearby ridge and was caught in a downdraft. He turned toward the ridge and lost altitude at a rapid pace. As he came closer to the treetops on the mountain, he lifted the nose, which resulted in a loss of airspeed. The glider stalled into the trees. During the pilot's glider training he was instructed to always turn away from ridges when "thermaling," in efforts to avoid downdrafts.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 164 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 128 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 2003; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 660 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSIY Montague CA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: KSIY Montague CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KSIY, 14 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.