# NTSB CEN17LA182: Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW, N616NG, Weatherford, TX, May 13, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 2017, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Weatherford, TX
- Coordinates: 32.566944, -97.807502 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5669&lon=-97.8075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95171
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95171/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95171
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA182

## Probable cause

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

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

On May 13, 2017, about 1820 central standard time, a Pipistrel Virus SW motorized-glider, N616NG, impacted terrain while departing the Driftwood Ranch Airport (XA86), Weatherford, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The motorized-glider was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident.According to a statement provided by the pilot, he was departing on runway 16, at XA86. After reaching rotation speed, the pilot rotated the motorized-glider and the nosewheel lifted off when a gust of wind from the left, pushed the motorized-glider to the right. The pilot added that he pulled back on the control stick to climb, and simultaneously added left rudder and aileron. As the motorized-glider got airborne, the pilot reported that the airspeed was insufficient, and the motorized-glider entered a stall-spin. After a quarter turn, the motorized-glider impacted terrain. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the glider's fuselage and wings. At 1815, an automated weather reporting facility located 7 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded a wind from 160 degrees at 4 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N616NG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N616NG-2017-12-12), registration cancelled 2017-12-12, S/N 742SWN100, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL DOO AJDOVSCINA VIRUS SW (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-doo-ajdovscina-virus-sw) (registry code 056321O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls2) (registry code 55599, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 742SWN100
- Year built: 2015
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: XA86, Weatherford, TX
- Destination: XA86, Weatherford, TX
- Airport: XA86, Driftwood Ranch, runway 16, 2,975 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 780 total, 231 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: KGDJ, 7 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20170513009689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170513009689A), May 13, 2017: Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, Weatheford, TX, Destroyed. On may 13, 2017 aircraft N616NG s/n 742WN100 was conducting touch and go takeoff on runway 15 at Driftwood Ranch Airport in weatherford, TX. At approximately…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95171. 176 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF

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.

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