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August 3, 2017 · Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW NO Series · N811AW

Immokalee, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 2017
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Immokalee, FL
Aircraft
Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW NO Series (2016)
Tail Number
N811AW
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA17LA270

The private pilot was conducting a personal, local flight. He reported that he was attempting to land the motor glider on a 1,200-ft-long grass runway with 50 ft-tall trees at each end. After the airplane touched down on the first third of the runway, the pilot realized he was not going to be able to stop the glider within the remaining runway, so he disengaged the air brakes, aborted the landing, and attempted a go-around. During the go-around, the left wing dropped, the glider descended, and the left wing struck the ground. The glider then impacted trees and came to rest about 1,000 ft beyond the runway approach end, and it sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the motor glider that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that, during the attempted go-around, the pilot failed to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Full Narrative

On August 3, 2017, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Pipistrel Virus-SW, N811AW, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an aborted landing from a private grass airstrip near Immokalee, Florida. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The motor glider was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight and originated about 1045 from Immokalee Regional Airport (IMM), Immokalee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a private, 1,200 ft-long grass airstrip with 50 ft-tall trees on both ends of the runway. After touchdown on the first third of the runway, realizing he was not going to stop in time, he disengaged the air brakes, aborted the landing, and attempted to go around. During the initial climb, at about 30 ft, "the left wing quickly dropped," before the glider descended and its left wing impacted the ground. The glider impacted trees located about 75 ft left of the runway center and 1,000 ft beyond the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the glider prior to the accident. Examination of the accident site revealed that pieces of the fiberglass wheel fairing came to rest near the point where the glider touched down. The pieces were scattered along the runway for about 150 ft, with the last piece located about 550 ft from the main wreckage. The path of the fiberglass debris was consistent with the runway heading of 080°. No other ground scars were discovered until the first impact marks near where the wreckage came to rest. An approximate 140-foot-long debris path oriented about a magnetic course of 060 degrees was located off the left side of the runway along with ground scars and propeller scalp marks. The left wing was completely separated from the fuselage and broken off at the wing spar near the wing root. The empennage was twisted upside down. Southwest Florida International Airport, (RSW) Fort Myers, Florida was located about 40 miles east-northeast of the accident site. The recorded weather at RSW, at 1053, included wind from 130 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 2,100 feet, temperature 31 degrees C, dew point 25 degrees C, and altimeter setting 30.14 inches of mercury. According to Federal Aviation Administration and aircraft records, the motor glider was issued a special airworthiness certificate for experimental exhibition on March 1, 2017. It was manufactured by the Pipistrel d.o.o. Ajdovscii factory. The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with a glider rating on March 27, 2017 and reported a total time of 33 hours.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 EDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (0nm)
Runway08
Runway Length1200 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW NO Series
Tail NumberN811AW
Aircraft CategoryGli
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 912 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · None · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2100 ft
Altimeter30.13 inHg
Observation Time14:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data