# NTSB NYC97LA127: Eiriavion PIK-20E, N1043G, Rochester, VT, June 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1997, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Rochester, VT - Location: 43.8704° N, 72.8036° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rochester, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8704&lon=-72.8036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39386 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39386/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather that consisted of downdrafts and his inadequate start procedures that resulted in a forced landing and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - downdraft - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was on a non-stop round-trip flight in a motorized glider as a contestant in a competition flight. En route he encountered sinking air and tried to start the engine. He was unable to start it and believed that he had flooded the engine, which he later attributed to 'the pressure of the circumstances.' According to the pilot, he then selected a field to land, but the glider collided with trees about 300 feet short of the field. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Eiriavion Oy, PIK-20E, N1043G, a motorized glider, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Rochester, Vermont. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which departed from Springfield, Vermont, about 1215. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he participated in a competition flight that departed Springfield, Vermont. The plan was to overfly Warren, Vermont, and return to Springfield. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "Flew the glider in vicinity of Hartness/Springfield airport ~ 1hour, then set for Sugarbush, VT, up Rte 100 valley. Fair progress ~ 4-5000' ASL, but over Rochester, VT, hit severe sink, tried to start engine, but probably flooded it, sinking ~ 1000'/min. Selected hayed field, flew pattern, but sink put me in trees on final 300' short of field...." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated: "...During a discussion as to why the engine did not start, he...stated that he probably flooded it. He said the engine always runs good, but it floods very easy and then will not start. He said he is sure that because of the pressure of the circumstances that he flooded the engine. Due to his close proximity ot the ground he did not have time to attempt another start, he was concerned with flying the aircraft...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1043G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1043G-2014-09-09), registration cancelled 2014-09-09, S/N 20221, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eiriavion Oy PIK-20E - Registry model: [Eiriavion PIK 20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/eiriavion-pik-20e) (registry code 5760207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 20221 - Airframe hours: 304 - Engines: Rotax 501 43 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philip B. Stoddard - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1997, 4 hours before - Departed: VSF, SPRINGFIELD, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 453 total, 304 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RUT, 24 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 19970623048069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970623048069A), Jun 23, 1997: Eirvon PIK20E, Rochester, VT, Substantial damage. (-16) The glider, piloted by philip b. stoddard, private certificate #1690050, sel/gl, while at 2700 feet, approximately 1200 feet AGL, encountered an… 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.