Minden-Tahoe Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minden, Nevada 89423
Sunday, May 21, 2000 14:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While returning to land at the airport, witnesses saw the glider make a shallow approach, and touchdown outside of the airport perimeter fence. The glider became airborne and flew through a five-strand barbed wire fence. The top two strands broke the canopy and struck the pilot. Compilation of witness interviews revealed that the glider appeared too low for a normal flight pattern, and they did not think that the glider would make it back to the runway. They saw it descend to the ground approximately 50 yards short of the runway and collide with the fence. An inspection of the glider revealed no preimpact anomalies. The engine was also inspected with no discrepancies noted. A GPS unit found onboard the glider was removed and downloaded; no information was available on the unit.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MINDEN
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89423
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MINDEN-TAHOE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MEV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 120
Airport Elevation 4718
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1400 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MEV
Elevation of weather observation facility 4717
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10125
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 21 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1550
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30PK
NTSB Number LAX00LA201
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Issoire-Aviation
Aircraft Model PIK-30
Aircraft Series Identifier PIK-30
Aircraft Serial Number 719
Certified Max Gross Weight 1014
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 55
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WYBURN W. MARTIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City GARDNERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89410
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MEV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 17 2001 4:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 5289
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --