# Accident 20230120000389A: Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D, Benton, TN, January 20, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 20, 2023, 14:30 local time
- Place: Benton, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1876° N, 84.5593° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1876&lon=-84.5593&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1NZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1NZ-2024-01-09) (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: EIRIAVION OY PIK 20D
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 26,300 total, 50 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230120000389A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 20TH, 2023, AT 1:03 EST, THE PIC OF^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED CHILHOWEE GLIDERPORT TO FLY ALONG THE RIDGE LINE WITHIN THE AREA OF BENTON, TN. THE PIC STATED HE FELT IT WAS "A GOOD RIDGE DAY TO FLY AND FELT IT WAS A SAFE DAY TO GO FLYING." THE PIC HAD A NORMAL TAKEOFF FROM CHILHOWEE GLIDERPORT AND WAS AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE PIC WAS FLYING UP AND DOWN THE RIDGE LINE. AS HE WAS FLYING ALONG THIS RIDGE, THE PIC SAW 2 LARGE BIRDS THERMALLING OFF OF HIS LEFT WING. THE PIC STATED HE THOUGHT HE WAS FURTHER AND HIGHER AWAY FROM THE RIDGE LINE. AS SUCH, THE PIC STATED HE ENTERED THE THERMAL THE BIRDS WERE IN AND MADE AN ERROR OF TURNING TOWARDS THE RIDGE. ONCE PERPENDICULAR TO THE RIDGE ON A MAGNETIC HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY  280 DEGREES, THE TAILWIND CARRIED HIM INTO THE AREA OF SINKING AIR. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFT AND COLLISION WITH THE TREE LINE OF BEAN MOUNTAIN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT SETTLED, THE PIC WAS ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE OWNER OF CHILHOWEE GLIDERPORT WHO INITIATED SEARCH AND RESCUE.

## 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 ERA23LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA115), Jan 20, 2023: Eiriavion PIK-20D (N1NZ), Benton, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to turn toward a mountain ridge in a thermal, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

## Other reports on N1NZ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19880410013339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880410013339A), Apr 10, 1988: Eirvon PIK20D (N1NZ), Saint Helena, CA, Minor damage. Unable to return on a round-robin flight due to lack of thermals and low altitude. Landing in a field hit a ditch.

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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