Molino Oy PIK-20 accident near Jonesville, North Carolina, August 1, 1993
On August 1, 1993 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Molino Oy PIK-20 (glider), registered N3WX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jonesville, North Carolina (Swan Creek airport). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1993 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jonesville, North Carolina · Swan Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Molino Oy PIK-20 · all PIK-20s on the register
- Registration
- N3WX · no longer on the register · serial 20063
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, UPON REALIZING THAT HE HAD SET UP TOO HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH, RETRACTED LANDING GEAR AND FLAPS AND ATTEMPTED A GO- AROUND. THE GLIDER STALLED AND BEGAN TO SPIN. THE GLIDER CRASHED IN A NOSE LOW, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE AND THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS BACK IN A CORNFIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE LANDING STRIP. IT WAS REPORTED IN THE PILOT/ OPERATOR REPORT THAT THERE WAS NO STALL WARNING SYSTEM INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE.
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: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 404 hours in all; 215 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 396 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 563 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1993; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 980 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 78A
- Destination: 78A
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,200 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:46 pm from INT, 30 miles away
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.
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.