Pilot Debrief

PIPISTREL DOO AJDOVSCINA VIRUS SW near Immokalee, FL — 2017-08-03

Final reportERA17LA270
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Date
2017-08-03
Location
Immokalee, FL, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
PIPISTREL DOO AJDOVSCINA VIRUS SW
Registration
N811AW
Category
Glider
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a personal, local flight. He reported that he was attempting to land the motor glider on a 1,200-ft-long grass runway with 50 ft-tall trees at each end. After the airplane touched down on the first third of the runway, the pilot realized he was not going to be able to stop the glider within the remaining runway, so he disengaged the air brakes, aborted the landing, and attempted a go-around. During the go-around, the left wing dropped, the glider descended, and the left wing struck the ground. The glider then impacted trees and came to rest about 1,000 ft beyond the runway approach end, and it sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the motor glider that would have precluded normal operation. Given the evidence, it is likely that, during the attempted go-around, the pilot failed to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land on a longer runway or executed a go-around earlier.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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