# NTSB ERA22LA025: Pipistrel Apis-Bee, N812DS, Columbia, SC, October 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2021, 10:38 local (14:38 UTC)
- Place: Columbia, SC
- Coordinates: 33.973189, -80.999662 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9732&lon=-80.9997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104146
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104146/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104146
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA025

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider during the landing approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05640FE), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/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 D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05640FE), [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.

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05640FE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Pipistrel D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05640FE), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, this was the first flight he made in the glider. He performed the first landing with the engine up and idling, and then during the second time around the traffic pattern, he stowed the engine during the downwind leg. When he turned the glider onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, he realized that he was “coming in high,” so he extended the airbrakes. He thought the glider needed a “little more help” descending, so he put the glider into a side slip. The pilot slipped the glider two more times, and on the third slip, the nose of the glider “dropped,” and it impacted the runway in a nose down position, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the glider revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N812DS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N812DS-2023-09-16), registration cancelled 2023-09-16, S/N 052 AB F33, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pipistrel Apis-Bee
- Registry model: [Pipistrel D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-d-o-o-ajdovscina-apis-bee) (registry code 05640FE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Hirth F-33](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-f-33) (registry code 33737, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 052ABF33
- Year built: 2021
- Engines: Hirth F33 BS 28 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: CUB, Jim Hamilton L B Owens, runway 13/31, 5,011 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: single

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: CUB
- METAR: KCUB 211453Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/16 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP226 T02110156 50001

## 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 20211021017229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211021017229A), Oct 21, 2021: Pipistrel D O O Ajdovscina APIS BEE, Columbia, SC, Substantial damage. Airman was landing (first flight) in this make and model with engine stowed. Airman was slipping the aircraft with air brakes deployed and initiated an…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104146. 2.4 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record - no pilot/operator report (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 729 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12966889&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=No%206120%20Memo%20LA025-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot's account of accident (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 204 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12967011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20LA025%20Daughter-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - glider examination by recovery personnel (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12967580&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20LA025%20Recovery%20Personnel-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photograph (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12966789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA025-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.

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