Pipistrel DOO Ajdovscina VIRUS SW accident near Immokalee, Florida, August 3, 2017
On August 3, 2017 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2016 Pipistrel DOO Ajdovscina VIRUS SW (glider), registered N811AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Immokalee, Florida (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2017 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Immokalee, Florida · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel DOO Ajdovscina VIRUS SW NO SERIES, built 2016
- Registration
- N811AW · no longer on the register · serial 823 SWN 100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2017
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 48 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 2017; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,323 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 48 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMM Immokalee FL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: PVT Immokalee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 1,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,100 ft; a few clouds
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KRSW, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Record Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array - Accident Site and Damage | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Map of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.