# Accident 20120204003639A: Pipistrel VIRUS 912, Ray, MI, February 4, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2012, 11:10 local time
- Place: Ray, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7294° N, 82.9006° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7294&lon=-82.9006&mi=10
- Aircraft: N325MZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N325MZ-2017-09-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pipistrel VIRUS 912 (registry code 05617ML, https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-virus-912) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912UL series (registry code 55571, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL VIRUS 912
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,773 total, 340 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120204003639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WITNESS' STATED THAT AIRCRAFT WAS RUNNING ROUGH DURING ENGINE RUN-UP AND TAKE-OFF.  THE ENGINE FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL.  THE PIC TRIED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A NEARBY GOLF COURSE AND WHILE MANUEVERING TO LAND THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GO UP ON THE NOSE AND THE FORWARD FUSELAGE SUPPORT STRUCTURE FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE CABIN.  DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE THE RIGHT WING DEPARTED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND THE TAIL SEPERATED JUST AFT OF THE FUSELAGE.  THE PIC SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN12LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA149), Feb 4, 2012: Pipistrel Virus 912 (N325MZ), Ray, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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