Issoire-Aviation PIK-30 accident near Dayton, Nevada, June 18, 1995
On June 18, 1995 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Issoire-Aviation PIK-30 (glider), registered N30PK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dayton, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delayed decision to extend and use the engine to maintain adequate terrain clearance after encountering downdrafts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1995 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dayton, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Issoire-Aviation PIK-30
- Registration
- N30PK · registry record · serial 719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE GLIDER AND INTERVIEWED PERSONS WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. THE GLIDER WAS TAKING PART IN A SOARING COMPETITION. STRONG UP AND DOWNDRAFTS, WITH WINDS AS HIGH AS 34 KNOTS, WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DUE TO THE DOWNDRAFTS, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MANUALLY EXTENDING THE ENGINE FROM ITS FUSELAGE STORAGE LOCATION WHEN THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE IS STORED IN A FUSELAGE BAY BEHIND THE PILOT'S SEAT AND MUST BE EXTENDED BY USE OF A HANDCRANK LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND ABOUT HALFWAY EXTENDED FROM ITS STORAGE BAY. FROM THE INITIAL GROUND CONTACT POINT TO THE GLIDER, THE INSPECTORS MEASURED A 20-FOOT-LONG GROUND SCAR. VERTICAL CRUSH DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GLIDER. NO CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WERE OBSERVED DURING THE EXAMINATION.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 505 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEV Minden NV at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 21 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from RNO, 18 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.
Other NTSB records under N30PK 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.