Eiriavion Oy PIK-20D N1NZ

Summary

On 20 January 2023 at about 13:40 local time, a Eiriavion Oy PIK-20D registered N1NZ was involved in an accident near Benton, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 2023 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.1876, -84.5593

Aircraft

Eiriavion Oy PIK-20D

Registration

N1NZ

Category

Glider

Year built

1978

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Benton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA23LA115

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s decision to turn toward a mountain ridge in a thermal, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider pilot reported that the day was a “good ridge day” and about 45 minutes into the flight he saw two large birds flying in a thermal. He attempted to enter the same thermal that the birds were in, turning towards a mountain ridge, the same direction the birds were circling. The pilot was carried out of the thermal and entered an area of sinking air which resulted in the glider impacting the ridge. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.