PIPISTREL DOO AJDOVSCINA VIRUS SW
Weatherford, TX — May 13, 2017
Event Information
| Date | May 13, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN17LA182 |
| Event ID | 20170514X12152 |
| Location | Weatherford, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.56694, -97.80750 |
| Airport | DRIFTWOOD RANCH |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPISTREL DOO AJDOVSCINA |
| Model | VIRUS SW |
| Category | GLI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 2 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to obtain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Full Narrative
On May 13, 2017, about 1820 central standard time, a Pipistrel Virus SW motorized-glider, N616NG, impacted terrain while departing the Driftwood Ranch Airport (XA86), Weatherford, Texas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The motorized-glider was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident.According to a statement provided by the pilot, he was departing on runway 16, at XA86. After reaching rotation speed, the pilot rotated the motorized-glider and the nosewheel lifted off when a gust of wind from the left, pushed the motorized-glider to the right. The pilot added that he pulled back on the control stick to climb, and simultaneously added left rudder and aileron. As the motorized-glider got airborne, the pilot reported that the airspeed was insufficient, and the motorized-glider entered a stall-spin. After a quarter turn, the motorized-glider impacted terrain. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the glider's fuselage and wings.
At 1815, an automated weather reporting facility located 7 nautical miles south of the accident site recorded a wind from 160 degrees at 4 knots.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.