# NTSB WPR24LA189: Pipistrel Italia S R L Alpha Trainer, N208ZM, Paso Robles, CA, June 8, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2024, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC)
- Place: Paso Robles, CA · Halter Ranch Airstrip (89CA)
- Coordinates: 35.64, -120.85
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6400&lon=-120.8500&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration, Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194434/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194434
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA189

## Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack that resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control on final approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to land with a tailwind.

## 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 Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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 Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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 Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he entered the traffic pattern for runway 04 and had previously received information by email from ground personnel, that the wind was from the south at 4 kts. While on final approach, the pilot initiated a forward slip to assist with the airplane’s descent and he terminated the slip, the stall warning horn sounded. After the stall warning horn sounded, the airplane “lost lift and had no control” as it descended into a vineyard located to the left of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground, rotated 180°, and came to rest upright. The wings, fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N208ZM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N208ZM), registered now, S/N 920 AT 912 LSA, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPISTREL ITALIA S R L ALPHA TRAINER
- Registry model: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-italia-s-r-l-alpha-trainer) (registry code 06001B5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 920 AT 912 LSA
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 163.9
- Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 28, 2024, 4.1 hours before
- Departed: 3O8, Coalinga, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 89CA, Halter Ranch Airstrip, runway 04/22, 3,353 × 25 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 24, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 141 total, 141 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KPRB, 11 nm away
- METAR: KPRB 081853Z AUTO 19015KT 10SM CLR 21/12 A2990

## 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 20240608006919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240608006919A), Jun 8, 2024: Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, Paso Robles, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted landing on runway 04 per airport noise procedure. Wind favored runway 22. Pilot made an approach holding a forward slip. Aircraft bank angle to…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194434. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17343783&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA189%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17352687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20of%20Record%20B%20Ahlers-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17343256&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA189%20photos_508-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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