Pilatus B-4 accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1999
On July 8, 1999 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Pilatus B-4 (glider), registered N20RK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania (Vansant 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1999 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · Vansant Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus B-4 · all B-4s on the register
- Registration
- N20RK · no longer on the register · serial 249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew a left traffic pattern to Runway 23. On short final approach, approximately 100 feet from the runway threshold, a gust of wind forced the glider to the left, into trees. At an airport approximately 17 miles away, at 1551, the reported winds were from 280 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 19 knots, an varying from 250 to 320 degrees.
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: 1,223 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,057 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 187 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1999; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 770 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 at 4:46 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 1,340 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ABE, 140 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC99LA170.