Pipistrel PIPISTREL SINUS 912 accident near Brookline, New Hampshire, June 13, 2020
On June 13, 2020 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2019 Pipistrel PIPISTREL SINUS 912 (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N783TH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Brookline, New Hampshire (Brookline airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a loss of control and a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2020 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brookline, New Hampshire · Brookline · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel PIPISTREL SINUS 912 No Series, built 2019, amateur-built
- Registration
- N783TH · registry record · serial 467 S 912 KIT
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built motor glider was landing on a 1,926-ft-long, 24-ft-wide runway with about a 6 knot quartering tailwind. During his first attempted landing the motor glider was high and fast on approach and the pilot elected to go-around. During his second attempt, the motor glider was also high and fast but the pilot elected to continue the approach to landing, using full air brakes and wing flaps. During the approach, he slowed the motor glider to 40 knots (6 knots above stall speed), and the motor glider then seemed to drop from about 10 ft above the runway and land hard. The right landing gear leg collapsed, and the motor glider veered off the right side of the runway, struck a vertical approach slope indicator, and was substantially damaged. Review of the Pilot's Operating Handbook revealed that the final approach speed should always be 55 knots with full flaps regardless of approaching with zero or full airbrakes. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the motor glider that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 20, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 12, 2019; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,210 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL2 (piston); 10 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NH16 Brookline NH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: NH16 Brookline NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 1,926 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from KASH, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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 | Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Excerpts from POH | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records - Kash Metars | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records - Kfit Metars | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Satellite Image of Accident Area | 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.