# NTSB CEN26LA294: Pipistrel Taurus Electro G2.5, N984TP, Hempstead, TX, August 15, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 15, 2026, 16:44 local (21:44 UTC) - Place: Hempstead, TX - Coordinates: 30.180471, -95.947944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1805&lon=-95.9479&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Ministry of Infrastructure Air, Maritime and Railway Accident and Incident Investigation Unit, Federal Aviation Administration, Houston FSDO, Pipistrel - NTSB case key (mKey): 203609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203609/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203609 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA294 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly stow the motor in preparation for approach and landing that resulted in a loss of airspeed and an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05641QV), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [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 TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05641QV), [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 TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05641QV), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05641QV), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the electric motor glider stated that in preparation for decent and landing to the destination airport, he selected the system enable switch to off instead of selecting the motor mast position selector to down. The motor then windmilled, which resulted in the motor and mast losing power, and the glider quickly lost airspeed. The glider then entered an aerodynamic stall and spin. The pilot stated that in an attempt to recover from the spin, he pushed down on the control stick and applied rudder, but the glider pitched up violently. While in an unusual attitude and at a low altitude, the pilot was unable to regain control and deployed the ballistic parachute. During the deployment, the parachute rocket went through the right wing, but the parachute still deployed and the glider impacted terrain in an inverted attitude. The glider sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot attributed the rapid loss of the glider’s airspeed due to the drag induced from the windmilling propeller and thought that the windmilling propeller also inhibited airflow over the vertical and horizontal stabilizer, which prevented recovery from the stall and spin. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider that precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N984TP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N984TP), registered now, S/N 167 T ET, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPISTREL TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5 - Registry model: [Pipistrel TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-taurus-electro-g2-5) (registry code 05641QV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 167 T ET - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 181.5 - Engines: Pipstrel 40/30 40 horsepower electric - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 7, 2026 - Airport: 89TA, Soaring Club of Houston - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 26,826 total, 150 in this make and model, 14,426 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: 60R, 13 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 20260815011429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260815011429A), Aug 15, 2026: Pipistrel TAURUS ELECTRO G2.5, Hempstead, TX, Destroyed. On 8/15/2026 at around 14:48 local time, the pilot was on a cruise flight approximately 2 miles from 89TA. Pilot stated that he was approximately at an… ## Other investigations on N984TP (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 CEN24LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA110), Feb 1, 2024: Pipistrel Taurus (N984TP), Waller, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to see and avoid one another while maneuvering, which resulted in a mid-air collision. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203609. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20882844&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� record of conversation, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20882593&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 936 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20887159&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.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. --- 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.