Pipistrel Virus 912 accident near Bend, Oregon, July 1, 2008
On July 1, 2008 at about 7:23 pm local time, a Pipistrel Virus 912 (glider), registered N126BF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Bend, Oregon (Bend Municipal 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 improper flare, inadequate bounced landing recovery, and his failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2008 · about 7:23 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Bend, Oregon · Bend Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pipistrel Virus 912 · all Virus 912s on the register
- Registration
- N126BF · registry record · serial 180VTL9120905KIT49
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing an approach to the destination airport in his powered glider. The aircraft touched down and bounced. It then began to veer to the right of the runway centerline. The aircraft then swerved to the left and the pilot could not regain control. The aircraft continued off the runway surface and down an embankment. The main landing gear encountered soft terrain and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine. He noted that winds were calm. When queried as to the cause of the accident, the pilot opined that the aircraft had "too much energy" during the landing sequence.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,770 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S21 Sunriver OR
- Destination: BDN Bend OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:56 pm from RDM, 10 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
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N126BF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Pipistrel VIRUS 912 10 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Pipistrel 398 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 912UL 135 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bend Municipal · nearest airport
- Sunriver Airport · departed from
- Bend Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,001 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX08CA208.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.