Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA accident near Lincoln Park, New Jersey, September 16, 2025
On September 16, 2025 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2019 Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, registered N272BH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lincoln Park, New Jersey (Lincoln Park Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for variable wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2025 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln Park, New Jersey · Lincoln Park Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel Lsa S R L VIRUS 912 LSA, built 2019
- Registration
- N272BH · registry record · serial 992 VN 912 LSA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting his third landing attempt in variable wind conditions. He reported encountering a tailwind on final approach, followed by a sudden downdraft near the runway’s landing threshold. The airplane touched down hard, bounced, and subsequently veered off the right side of the runway. The pilot attempted to slow the airplane by applying the brakes but was unable to stop. The left wing impacted a parked airplane, and the right wing collided with a tree, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 22, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS SERIES (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OZW Howell MI at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,767 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KCDW, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCDW 161653Z 09007KT 060V130 10SM CLR 23/13 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP242 T02280128=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N272BH Pipistrel
Photograph 2 – Left Wing Impact with Parked Aircraft
Photograph 3 – Right Wing Damage, Impact with TreeThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.