Furche-Bielsko SZD-48 JANTAR accident near Warner Springs, California, January 22, 1994
On January 22, 1994 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Furche-Bielsko SZD-48 JANTAR (glider), registered N48DF, was destroyed in an accident near Warner Springs, California. 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION TO RECOVER FROM THE SPIN. THE INTENTIONAL STALL/SPIN WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1994 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Furche-Bielsko SZD-48 JANTAR SZD-48 JAN
- Registration
- N48DF · registry record · serial B-1218
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL AREA VISUAL FLIGHT RULES GLIDER FLIGHT. WHILE MANEUVERING OVER A MOUNTAINOUS AREA, THE PILOT ENTERED INTO A SPIN. A TOW PLANE PILOT IN THE AREA REPORTED THAT HE FIRST SAW THE GLIDER IN A FULLY DEVELOPED SPIN AND THAT THE PILOT MADE NO APPARENT ATTEMPT TO RECOVER. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED ACROBATIC AND SPIN RECOVERY TRAINING. THE GLIDER CRASHED IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. INVESTIGATORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WHICH WOULD HAVE EFFECTED THE RECOVERY. THE POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING CONDITION OR DISEASE WHICH WOULD HAVE DETRACTED FROM THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO FLY A GLIDER.
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: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 336 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,180 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:46 pm from CRQ, 31 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.