Pilot Debrief

Pipistrel Taurus near Durango, CO — 2011-07-08

Final reportCEN11FA465
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Date
2011-07-08
Location
Durango, CO, USA
Aircraft
Pipistrel Taurus
Registration
N261T
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control during the off-airport landing in strong winds, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the glider maneuvering at low altitude with the engine running, and it landed hard at an off-airport location. An examination of the airframe and engine did not detect any preimpact anomalies that would have prevented the normal operation of the glider, and the glider's ballistic recovery parachute had not been deployed. A review of the weather in the area found that conditions were favorable for convective clouds with updrafts and downdrafts up to 40 knots with the possibility of microbursts; therefore, it is likely that the pilot encountered strong wind conditions and chose to perform an off-airport landing. It is also likely that, had the pilot lost control of the glider at altitude (prior to the attempted landing), he would have deployed the ballistic recovery parachute.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to avoid low altitude maneuvers near convective clouds.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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