# NTSB LAX95LA215: Issoire-Aviation PIK-30, N30PK, Dayton, NV, June 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 1995, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Dayton, NV - Coordinates: 39.260726, -119.479324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2607&lon=-119.4793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29121 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29121/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA215 ## Probable cause the pilot's delayed decision to extend and use the engine to maintain adequate terrain clearance after encountering downdrafts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal - weather condition - downdraft - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE GLIDER AND INTERVIEWED PERSONS WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. THE GLIDER WAS TAKING PART IN A SOARING COMPETITION. STRONG UP AND DOWNDRAFTS, WITH WINDS AS HIGH AS 34 KNOTS, WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DUE TO THE DOWNDRAFTS, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUALLY EXTENDING THE ENGINE FROM ITS FUSELAGE STORAGE LOCATION WHEN THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE IS STORED IN A FUSELAGE BAY BEHIND THE PILOT'S SEAT AND MUST BE EXTENDED BY USE OF A HANDCRANK LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND ABOUT HALFWAY EXTENDED FROM ITS STORAGE BAY. FROM THE INITIAL GROUND CONTACT POINT TO THE GLIDER, THE INSPECTORS MEASURED A 20-FOOT-LONG GROUND SCAR. VERTICAL CRUSH DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GLIDER. NO CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WERE OBSERVED DURING THE EXAMINATION. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 1995, about 1600 hours Pacific daylight time, an Issoire Siren PIK-30 motorized glider, N30PK, collided with mountainous terrain near Dayton, Nevada, while engaged in a soaring competition. The glider was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Minden, Nevada, at 1230 on the day of the accident. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Reno, Nevada Flight Standards District Office, responded to the accident site, examined the glider, and interviewed persons with knowledge about the accident. According to the inspectors, the glider was taking part in a soaring competition. Strong up and downdrafts, with winds as high as 34 knots, were reported in the area of the accident. The pilot was experiencing difficulty maintaining adequate terrain clearance due to the downdrafts, and was in the process of manually extending the engine from its fuselage storage location when the glider collided with the terrain. The inspectors reported that the engine is stored in a fuselage bay behind the pilot's seat and must be extended by use of a handcrank located on the right side of the cockpit. The engine was found about halfway extended from its storage bay. From the initial ground contact point to the glider, the inspectors measured a 20-foot-long ground scar. Vertical crush damage was noted to the bottom of the glider. No control system malfunctions were observed during the examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30PK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30PK), registered now, S/N 719, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Issoire-Aviation PIK-30 - Registry model: [Issoire Siren PIK-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/issoire-siren-pik-30) (registry code 8270320) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 719 - Engines: ROTAX 505 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harris M. Schurmeier - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1994 - Departed: MEV, MINDEN, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,100 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 21 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 18 nm away ## 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 19950618020679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950618020679A), Jun 18, 1995: Amtr PIK30, Dayton, NV, Substantial damage. Impacted mountainous terrain on glider meet. Was cranking out engine to stabize flight. Blamed downdraft. ## Other investigations on N30PK (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 LAX00LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA201), May 21, 2000: Issoire-Aviation PIK-30 (N30PK), Minden, NV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision to attempt to make it back to the runway for landing after experiencing a loss of lift and not maintaining a proper descent rate. 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.