Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B N29JH

Summary

On 17 June 2006 at about 20:20 local time, a Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B registered N29JH was involved in an accident near Mt. Holly Sprin, Pennsylvania, 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

17 June 2006 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt. Holly Sprin, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.0728, -77.1953

Aircraft

Eiriavion Oy PIK 20B

Registration

N29JH

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairfield → Fairfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC06CA150

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from trees along his final approach path.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After approximately 2 hours of cross-country soaring, the pilot headed back toward the departure airport. Unable to find adequate thermal lift, the pilot altered course toward a group of gliders who had encountered thermals. Finding no source of lift near the other gliders, and unable to reach the airport, he chose an open field for a forced landing. During the landing approach, the pilot executed an "S-turn" with the flaps fully extended and with steep bank angles, which resulted in a "faster than expected" altitude loss. The glider struck trees bordering the intended landing field, resulting in substantial damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.