# NTSB FTW02LA043: Eiriavion PIK 20D, N2078D, Alamogordo, NM, November 23, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2001, 15:13 local (22:13 UTC) - Place: Alamogordo, NM - Coordinates: 32.839721, -105.990554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8397&lon=-105.9906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance with small trees during a precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts - glider/tow release - performed, pilot in command - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ground - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis 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 altitude 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. ## Factual narrative On November 23, 2001, approximately 1513 mountain standard time, an Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D glider, N2078D, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during a precautionary landing at the Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The glider was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the glider, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Alamogordo at 1510. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 03, he encountered "a strong wind gust that caused the glider to balloon dangerously high above the tow plane." The pilot was unable to maintain a proper tow position and elected to terminate the tow by releasing the tow rope when the glider was approximately 200 feet above the runway. A right turn was then initiated in an attempt to land on runway 34, "but [he] did not have sufficient altitude, and [the] right wing brushed a large mesquite bush just prior to impact." The pilot stated that subsequent to impact the glider ground looped in a clockwise direction, slid approximately 50 feet, and came to rest upright. Both wings and the fuselage section aft of the wing root sustained structural damage. The pilot added that the wind at the time of the accident was from 350 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. At 1511, the automated weather observation facility located at Alamogordo reported the wind from 210 degrees at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2078D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2078D), registered now, S/N 20593, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eiriavion Oy PIK 20D - Registry model: [Eiriavion PIK 20D](https://openairdocs.org/model/eiriavion-pik-20d) (registry code 5760206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20593 - Airframe hours: 1732 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lee R. Goettsche Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 2000, 132 hours before - Departed: ALM, Alamogordo, NM - Destination: ALM, Alamogordo, NM - Airport: ALM, Alamogordo-White Sands Regiona, runway 34, 3,512 × 200 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review June 5, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 6,258 total, 460 in this make and model, 6,100 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011123035369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011123035369A), Nov 23, 2001: Eirvon PIK20D, Alamogordo, NM, Substantial damage. (-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]… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.