Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D N39RB

Summary

On 6 May 2012 at about 20:06 local time, a Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D registered N39RB was involved in an accident near Eagleville, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 May 2012 at 20:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Eagleville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Puckett Gliderport (50M)

Coordinates

35.6944, -86.6167

Aircraft

Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D

Registration

N39RB

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eagleville → Eagleville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA321

1 person was seriously injured.

The glider’s encounter with atmospheric lift conditions not sufficient to maintain flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, when he was preparing to land, the wind favored a landing to the north. However, during the approach to land, he observed another glider being pulled out onto the field. Concerned about obstacle clearance during the landing, the pilot continued north on a downwind leg to set up for a landing to the south. The last thing he recalled before the accident was encountering a “very strong sink.” The glider subsequently collided with a cedar tree and the ground, substantially damaging the glider’s empennage. A witness reported that the glider appeared to climb and then banked hard to the right and rolled upside down before the collision. Postaccident examination and the pilot’s statement indicated no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.