NTSB NYC06CA076 — 2006-03-04 · Hardwick, New Jersey, United States

N153PS has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (AUTOGYRO GMBH CAVALON, built 2016), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N153PS PZL-Swidnik PW-5 None

Probable cause & findings

A loss of lift which resulted in a forced landing.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, after about 2 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the return leg to the departure airport, the pilot attempted to cross a valley were he encountered "strong turbulent air pushing the glider down." The pilot was able to transition through the valley but was unable to find any "substantial lift" on the opposite side. Unable to locate a suitable forced landing area, the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. According to the pilot, after about 2 hours of ridgeline flying, and during the return leg to the departure airport, he attempted to cross a valley were he encountered "strong turbulent air pushing the glider down." The pilot was able to transition through the valley but was unable to find any "substantial lift" on the opposite side. Unable to locate a suitable forced landing area, the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_NYC06CA076.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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