Molino Oy PIK 20 accident near Highsprings, Florida, March 19, 1983
On March 19, 1983 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Molino Oy PIK 20 (glider), registered N1975S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Highsprings, Florida (Rudy'S Glider Port 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
- March 19, 1983 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Highsprings, Florida · Rudy'S Glider Port · 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
- N1975S · registry record · serial 20033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DESCENDED BELOW THE TREE LINE AND ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR. HE TRADED ALTITUDE FOR AIRSPEED AND THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED THETOP WIRE OF A FENCE. THE ACFT CONTINUED ON TOWARD THE INTENDED POINT OF LANDING KNOCKING DOWN 2 FENCE POSTS. THE ACFT CAME TO REST AT THE RUNWAYS EDGE.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,230 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 7,221 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 592 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 28, 1982; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from GNV, 25 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.