# Accident 20011123035369A: Eirvon PIK20D, Alamogordo, NM, November 23, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 2001, 15:13 local time
- Place: Alamogordo, NM
- Airport: Alamogordo-White Sands Regiona
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.8397° N, 105.9906° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8397&lon=-105.9906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2078D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2078D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eiriavion PIK 20D (registry code 5760206, https://openairdocs.org/model/eiriavion-pik-20d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EIRVON PIK20D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,001 total, 460 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011123035369A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON 11/23/01, AT 1513 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A PIK-20D SAILPLANE (N2078D) REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY MR. LEE R. GOETTSCHE, JR., ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE IN AN OFF-FIELD LANDING AFTER A "PREMATURE TERMINATION OF TOW" (PTT) WHILE DEPARTING THE WHITE SANDS REGIONAL AIRPORT (ALM), ALAMOGORDO, NM ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PLEASURE FLIGHT, WHICH WAS PART OF A SOARING RALLY, UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE STRUCTURE WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AFTER GUSTY WINDS CAUSED AN EMERGENCY RELEASE FROM THE TOW PLANE. MR. GOETTSCHE, WHO HOLDS A COMMERICAL PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH PRIVATE PRIVILEGES IN GLIDERS, WAS NOT INJURED. (.4) 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 ALTITUD                          E 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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW02LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA043), Nov 23, 2001: Eiriavion PIK 20D (N2078D), Alamogordo, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance with small trees during a precautionary landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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