Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW N69PV

Summary

On 30 May 2023 at about 20:05 local time, a Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW registered N69PV was involved in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 May 2023 at 20:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF)

Coordinates

35.6171, -106.0894

Aircraft

Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW

Registration

N69PV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moriarty → Sante Fe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA209

1 person had minor injuries.

An encounter with a downdraft during landing that resulted in a hard landing and the pilot’s loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he experienced severe turbulence within about 10 miles of the airport as he was approaching to land. He further reported that during the landing, the airplane encountered a downdraft and bounced on touchdown. The airplane exited the runway to the left onto an adjacent grass area and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.