N9013H – PIPISTREL SINUS 912 – 2011-10-16 NTSB Accident Report

On October 16, 2011, a Pipistrel SINUS 912 (N9013H) was involved in an incident near Indianapolis, IN. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the motor-glider while landing in gusty wind conditions.

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 elected to attempt a landing in the grass adjacent to the runway as the safest course of action. He stated that another wind gust "caught" the right wing and the motor-glider ground looped in the grass. The motor-glider subsequently nosed over and received substantial damage to its fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures. A weather reporting station near the accident airport recorded the wind speed as 15 knots gusting to 25 knots. The reported wind direction was aligned with the runway direction.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA038. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9013H.