Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D N2078D

Summary

On 23 November 2001 at about 22:13 local time, a Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D registered N2078D was involved in an accident near Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 November 2001 at 22:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Alamogordo-White Sands Regiona (ALM)

Coordinates

32.8397, -105.9906

Aircraft

Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D

Registration

N2078D

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alamogordo → Alamogordo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02LA043

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance with small trees during a precautionary landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that shortly after an aero tow takeoff the flight encountered a strong wind gust which "caused the glider to balloon dangerously high above the tow plane." The pilot elected to release the tow rope at approximately 200 feet above ground level. An immediate right turn was initiated to an intersecting runway. The glider did not have sufficient altitude to make the runway and, subsequently, the right wing impacted small trees and the ground. The glider then ground looped 180 degrees and slid approximately 50 feet before coming to rest upright. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 350 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The automated weather observation facility on the airport reported the wind as from 210 degrees at 4 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.