# NTSB ERA17LA270: Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina Virus SW, N811AW, Immokalee, FL, August 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2017, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.291944, -81.11222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2919&lon=-81.1122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA270 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95780/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95780 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA270 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: 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) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pipistrel Doo Ajdovscina VIRUS SW, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056321O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal, local flight. He reported that he was attempting to land the motor glider on a 1,200-ft-long grass runway with 50 ft-tall trees at each end. After the airplane touched down on the first third of the runway, the pilot realized he was not going to be able to stop the glider within the remaining runway, so he disengaged the air brakes, aborted the landing, and attempted a go-around. During the go-around, the left wing dropped, the glider descended, and the left wing struck the ground. The glider then impacted trees and came to rest about 1,000 ft beyond the runway approach end, and it sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the motor glider that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that, during the attempted go-around, the pilot failed to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2017, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Pipistrel Virus-SW, N811AW, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an aborted landing from a private grass airstrip near Immokalee, Florida. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. The motor glider was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight and originated about 1045 from Immokalee Regional Airport (IMM), Immokalee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a private, 1,200 ft-long grass airstrip with 50 ft-tall trees on both ends of the runway. After touchdown on the first third of the runway, realizing he was not going to stop in time, he disengaged the air brakes, aborted the landing, and attempted to go around. During the initial climb, at about 30 ft, "the left wing quickly dropped," before the glider descended and its left wing impacted the ground. The glider impacted trees located about 75 ft left of the runway center and 1,000 ft beyond the approach end of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the glider prior to the accident. Examination of the accident site revealed that pieces of the fiberglass wheel fairing came to rest near the point where the glider touched down. The pieces were scattered along the runway for about 150 ft, with the last piece located about 550 ft from the main wreckage. The path of the fiberglass debris was consistent with the runway heading of 080°. No other ground scars were discovered until the first impact marks near where the wreckage came to rest. An approximate 140-foot-long debris path oriented about a magnetic course of 060 degrees was located off the left side of the runway along with ground scars and propeller scalp marks. The left wing was completely separated from the fuselage and broken off at the wing spar near the wing root. The empennage was twisted upside down. Southwest Florida International Airport, (RSW) Fort Myers, Florida was located about 40 miles east-northeast of the accident site. The recorded weather at RSW, at 1053, included wind from 130 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 2,100 feet, temperature 31 degrees C, dew point 25 degrees C, and altimeter setting 30.14 inches of mercury. According to Federal Aviation Administration and aircraft records, the motor glider was issued a special airworthiness certificate for experimental exhibition on March 1, 2017. It was manufactured by the Pipistrel d.o.o. Ajdovscii factory. The pilot was issued a private pilot certificate with a glider rating on March 27, 2017 and reported a total time of 33 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N811AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N811AW-2020-05-29), registration cancelled 2020-05-29, S/N 823 SWN 100 (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) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 823 SWN 100 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 48 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, March 1, 2017, 33 hours before - Departed: IMM, IMMOKALEE, FL - Destination: PVT, Immokalee, FL - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 08, 1,200 × 40 ft, gravel - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; last flight review March 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KRSW, 40 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 20170803011409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170803011409A), Aug 3, 2017: Pipistrel VIRUS SW, Immokalee, FL, Destroyed. Light sport aircraft Pipistrel Virus Sw, registration number N811AW with two persons onboard flying, took off from Immokalee airport (imm). Aircraft was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95780. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 918 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478568&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Maintenance Record Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Record%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Photo Array - Accident Site and Damage (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage-Master.PDF - Map of Accident Site (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478572&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Site-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. --- 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.