# Accident 20200410003799A: Pipistrel Lsa Srl SINUS, Gatlinburg, TN, April 10, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 10, 2020, 09:00 local time
- Place: Gatlinburg, TN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5708° N, 83.5850° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5708&lon=-83.5850&mi=10
- Aircraft: N711MK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711MK-2021-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pipistrel Lsa SINUS (registry code 0600083, https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-lsa-sinus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL LSA SRL SINUS
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA151) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200410003799A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED COBB COUNTY AIRPORT, GA (KRYY) AT 0900 LOCAL. THE INTENDED FLIGHT WAS TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE CLINGMAN'S DOME AREA AND THEN RETURN TO KRYY. AFTER DEPARTURE THE AIRCRAFT FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR POWERED BY THE ENGINE. ONCE REACHING THE CLINGMAN'S DOME AREA NEAR GATLINBURG, TN THE PILOT SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE AND FEATHERED THE PROPELLER TO COMMENCE IN GLIDING OPERATIONS. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT ONCE HE ARRIVED IN THE AREA HE HAD A NORTHERLY WIND WITH GUSTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE GOOD FOR GLIDING AND THAT HE ONLY HAD TO REVERSE COURSE A FEW TIMES TO LEAVE A DOWNDRAFT AREA TO REGAIN THE UPDRAFT. AFTER PROGRESSING FOR ABOUT 15NM EAST AT APPROXIMATELY 5500 FEET MSL THE AIRCRAFT ONCE AGAIN ENTERED INTO A UNEXPECTED SINK. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE WEST AND FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 NM TO TRY REGAIN THE UPDRAFT. THE PILOT THEN TURNED AGAIN BACK TO THE EAST EXPECTING TO REGAIN THE UPDRAFT BUT ENCOUNTERED A SIGNIFICANT SINK. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND QUICKLY. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL THE PILOT UNFEATHERED THE PROPELLER AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. THE PILOT REPORTS THAT 1-2 SECONDS AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET AGL AND HE THEN DEPLOYED THE AIRCRAFT'S BALLISTIC PARACHUTE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES BELOW AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.

## 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 ERA20CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA151), Apr 10, 2020: Pipistrel Sinus (N711MK), Townsend, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The motor glider's encounter with atmospheric lift conditions that were not sufficient to maintain flight, which necessitated a forced landing and resulted in impact with vegetation. Contributing to…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.