WPR26FA202

On May 31, 2026, about 1236 central daylight time, a Pipistrel D O O Sinus 912, N1277P, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Columbus, Mississippi. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the airport manager from Columbus-Lowndes County Airport (UBS), Columbus, Mississippi, the pilot was observed arriving at the airport around noon. Airport security video showed the airplane takeoff a short time later. Preliminary ADS-B revealed that the airplane departed UBS about 1207 and flew in a northeasterly direction for about 15 minutes. The flight track indicated a turn to the west-southwest in a direction back toward UBS. ADS-B data ended about 8 miles northeast of UBS. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane was destroyed in a postcrash fire and came to rest upright adjacent to a field, near a rural residential area, about 5 miles northeast of UBS. The main wreckage came to rest on a magnetic heading of 148° at the base of a power transmission pole. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a power transmission line about 25 ft southwest of the transmission pole. All major structural components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.