Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crested Butte, Colorado 81224
Sunday, August 8, 1982 12:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ATTENDING AN "AVIATION WEEKEND" SPONSORED BY THE TOWN OF CRESTED BUTTE, CO. HE HAD FLOWN IN THIS AREA OFTEN AND WAS ACQUAINTED WITH THE TERRAIN AND WEATHER. AFTER BEING TOWED TO AN AREA NEAR THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF MT CRESTED BUTTE, A NORMAL RELEASE WAS MADE. IN A RADIO TRANSMISSION TO THE GLIDER, THE TOW PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LIFT, BUT MAYBE HE (THE TOW PILOT) HAD FELT SOMETHING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN AS HE WAS CIRCLING BACK TO LAND AFTER THE RELEASE. THE MESSAGE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE GLIDER PILOT. WHO THEN TOOK A PICTURE OF THE TOW PLANE. THE GLIDER PILOT THEN PROCEEDED AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHERE HE CRASHED ON THE NORTH FACE OF MT CRESTED BUTTE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GLIDER WAS ON A HEADING OF 070 DEG WHEN IT STRUCK A 60 FT PINE TREE ABOUT 20 FT FROM THE TOP. IT HAD IMPACTED THE TREE WITH IT'S LEFT WING ROOT, SEVERING BOTH THE WING AND THE TREE. THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST ABOUT 100 AWAY AFTER PARTIALLY UPROOTING A STUMP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City CRESTED BUTTE
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81224
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 65
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1930
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N199A
NTSB Number DEN82FTE22
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EIRIAVION OY
Aircraft Model PIK-20D
Aircraft Series Identifier PIK-20D
Aircraft Serial Number 20537
Certified Max Gross Weight 750
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 0
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LEWIS K. CORDER
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 241
Aircraft Owner City BRIGHTON
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80601
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LEWIS K. CORDER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 241
Operator City BRIGHTON
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80601
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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
Departure City CRESTED BUTTE
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CRESTED BUTTE
Destination State CO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --