N6263R

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 10, 2020, at 1700 eastern daylight time, a Pipistrel Italia SRL Sinus 912 LSA, N6263R, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Marathon, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The glider was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the airport manager at the Marathon International Airport (MTH), Marathon, Florida, the pilot arrived at the airport and was seen on surveillance video conducting a preflight inspection of the motor glider. After the pilot completed the inspection, he taxied to the runway and departed at an undetermined time.

The manager further reported that the pilot was flying over the airport and in the local area most of the day. About 1600, he heard the pilot on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency reporting that he was at 7,000 ft and circling the airport. That was the last radio transmission he heard from the pilot.

Two witnesses stated that they heard an unusually loud noise and as they looked around, they saw the accident glider to the north and determined that was where the noise was coming from. The witnesses were south of the airport and could hear the engine "laboring" and saw the glider wobbling in the air. The glider then made a “sharp left turn" and then the engine started to "surge, sputter" and before it lost power completely. The nose of the glider "dropped down", and, about a second before impacting a house, the glider's airframe ballistic parachute deployed. A postimpact fire ensued.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONA review of the records found in the pilot’s vehicle revealed that the airplane had a total time of 20 hours. A glider endorsement was found that was dated a month prior. A container was found in the back of the pilot’s vehicle that contained what a Federal Aviation Administration inspector said appeared to be automotive fuel. The fuel was checked for debris and contamination, and none was found.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

MTH,5 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

1 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

16:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

45°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Clear

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts:

9 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

None / None

Wind Direction:

290°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting:

29.9 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

31°C / 23°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point:

Marathon, FL (MTH )

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

AIRPORT INFORMATIONA review of the records found in the pilot’s vehicle revealed that the airplane had a total time of 20 hours. A glider endorsement was found that was dated a month prior. A container was found in the back of the pilot’s vehicle that contained what a Federal Aviation Administration inspector said appeared to be automotive fuel. The fuel was checked for debris and contamination, and none was found.

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

MTH,5 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

1 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

16:53 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

45°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Clear

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

None

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts:

9 knots /

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:

None / None

Wind Direction:

290°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:

N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting:

29.9 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

31°C / 23°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point:

Marathon, FL (MTH )

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airframe was destroyed by post impact fire which precluded the investigation from determining flight control continuity. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONAccording to the autopsy performed by The District 16 Medical Examiner’s Office, Marathon, Florida, the determined cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident.

Toxicology testing detected diphenhydramine in the pilot’s bile, liver tissue, and blood; one laboratory did not detect diphenhydramine in his iliac blood. Duloxetine was detected in his blood at 43 ng/mL and his liver tissue. Meclizine and the non-impairing medications amlodipine and sildenafil were detected in the blood and liver tissue.