PIK-20 hits trees on a forced landing after its engine won't restart

A pilot was injured and a PIK-20 self-launcher destroyed in a forced landing into trees after its engine would not restart. Having detoured to check a glider wrecked on a mountain's east face, the pilot ended up below the crest in the lee and sank. An attempt to restart the retractable engine failed — the propeller brake had been left engaged — and the glider kept losing height. Fixated on the dead engine, the pilot did not watch the height, pick a field or set up the approach; too low, the glider was flown straight ahead into trees with the gear still up, striking a tree by a house, then more trees, then the ground.

1. Detour to a wrecked glider: The pilot altered course to a glider wrecked on the mountain's east face, to check if help was needed.
2. Slipped into the lee, sank: Below the crest the glider met lee-side sink and lost height.
3. Engine would not restart: An attempt to restart the retractable engine failed; the propeller brake had been left engaged.
4. Fixation on the dead engine: The pilot focused on the engine and did not watch the height or prepare a field landing.
5. Forced landing into trees: Too low, the glider was flown straight ahead into trees, the gear still retracted.
6. Pilot injured, glider destroyed: The glider struck a tree, then a stand of trees, then the ground; the pilot was injured.