Eiriavion Oy PIK 20E accident near Thomasville, North Carolina, May 18, 1984
On May 18, 1984 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Eiriavion Oy PIK 20E, registered N35LP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thomasville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1984 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Thomasville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eiriavion Oy PIK 20E · all PIK 20Es on the register
- Registration
- N35LP · registry record · serial PIK-20E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT SUFFERED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AT 150 FT AGL WHILE ON INITIAL CLIMB. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT TO LAND AND THE ENG LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A MATURE WHEAT FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE NO. 1 PISTON & CYL WERE EXPOSED TO EXTREME HEAT AND THE PISTON HAD A HOLE THROUGH IT. THE SPARK PLUG WAS ALSO BADLY BURNED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,592 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 6,464 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 71 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 505 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N35LP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.