Pipistrel SINUS 912 N9013H

Summary

On 16 October 2011 at about 18:45 local time, a Pipistrel SINUS 912 registered N9013H was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 October 2011 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Indianapolis Regional (MQJ)

Coordinates

40.0306, -86.2514

Aircraft

Pipistrel SINUS 912

Registration

N9013H

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisville → Indianapolis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA038

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the motor-glider while landing in gusty wind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the motor-glider encountered a wind gust during the landing flare that resulted in a 15-degree runway misalignment. The pilot considered a go-around, but chose to attempt a landing in the grass adjacent to the runway because he believed that was the safest course of action. He stated that another wind gust "caught" the right wing and the motor-glider ground looped in the grass, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.