Indianapolis Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indianapolis, Indiana 46077
Sunday, October 16, 2011 14:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the motor-glider encountered a wind gust during the landing flare that resulted in a 15-degree runway misalignment. The pilot considered a go-around, but chose to attempt a landing in the grass adjacent to the runway because he believed that was the safest course of action. He stated that another wind gust "caught" the right wing and the motor-glider ground looped in the grass, nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was gusting to 25 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the motor-glider while landing in gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/16/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Indianapolis
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46077
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400150n
Event Location Longitude 0861505w
Event Location Airport Indianapolis Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MQJ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 922
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1354 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 13000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.76
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KIND 161754Z 25015G25KT 10SM SCT130 BKN150 BKN200
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29267
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 14 2011 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9013H
NTSB Number CEN12CA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPISTREL
Aircraft Model SINUS 912
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 088S9120103
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 23 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 664
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MART STEWART J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City INDIANAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46220-3531
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MART STEWART J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City INDIANAPOLIS
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46220-3531
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LOU
Departure City Louisville
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MQJ
Destination City Indianapolis
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2011 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record bakd
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --