Pik 20 accident near Julian, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1987
On May 8, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Pik 20 (glider), registered CGPIK, was destroyed in an accident near Julian, Pennsylvania. 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 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 8, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pik 20
- Registration
- CGPIK · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS ASSEMBLED AND ALL CONTROLS CHECKED FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF AND CLIMB, WHILE IN TOW, THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE UP ABRUPTLY BREAKING THE TOW ROPE. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO TURN RIGHT AND NOSE DOWN INTO THE GROUND. EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PUSH/PULL CONTROL ROD WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE ELEVATOR BALL JOINT.
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
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 1,123 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2,060 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 880 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- 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.