Molino Oy PIK 20E accident near Fremont, California, June 3, 1984
On June 3, 1984 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Molino Oy PIK 20E (glider), registered N705W, was destroyed in an accident near Fremont, California (Sky Sailing 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 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
- June 3, 1984 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, California · Sky Sailing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Molino Oy PIK 20E · all PIK 20Es on the register
- Registration
- N705W · registry record · serial 702
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE MOTORIZED GLIDER HAD JUST LIFTED OFF WHEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & HIT TALL WEEDS NEXT TO THE 20 FT WIDE PAVED RWY. THE WEEDS WERE ABOUT 2 1/2 FT TALL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE GLIDER 'GROUND LOOPED' TO THE RIGHT & THE FUSELAGE FAILED. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ARPT WAS NOT MAINTAINED PROPERLY FOR ACFT WITH LOW WINGS THAT MAY HAVE TO BE LOWERED TO CORRECT FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1984; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,036 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 505 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 1,840 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.