Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW N616NG

Summary

On 13 May 2017 at about 23:20 local time, a Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW registered N616NG was involved in an accident near Weatherford, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 May 2017 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Weatherford, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Driftwood Ranch (XA86)

Coordinates

32.5669, -97.8075

Aircraft

Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW

Registration

N616NG

Category

Glider

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Weatherford → Weatherford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA182

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to obtain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, during departure for the planned local flight in a motorized glider, just as the nosewheel lifted off, a wind gust from the left pushed the motorized glider to the right. The pilot pulled back on the control stick to climb and simultaneously applied left rudder and aileron. The pilot added that the motorized glider became airborne, but the airspeed was insufficient, and it then entered a "stalled left spin." An automated weather reporting facility located 7 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded that the wind was from 160°at 4 knots. The accident is consistent with the pilot failing to obtain adequate airspeed at takeoff, which resulted in the motorized glider entering an aerodynamic stall/spin immediately after takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.