History of Flight
On April 4, 2017, at about 0908 eastern daylight time, an experimental Pipistrel Virus SW motorglider, registered as N155CL, was destroyed when it struck terrain near Micanopy, Florida. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was privately owned and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Sebring Regional Airport (SEF) at 0800, destined for Oconee County Regional Airport (CEU) in Clemson, South Carolina.
Radar data from the Federal Aviation Administration showed the motorglider traveling north from SEF at about 8,000 ft mean sea level. At 0842, the pilot contacted Jacksonville approach control to request pilot reports and information about a weather line about 60 nautical miles ahead. The controller described areas of "heavy to extreme precipitation" and offered vectors around the worst weather. The pilot asked about cloud bases and was told a report indicated bases at 10,000 ft. The pilot replied, "if things turn south I'll just go to Ocala," and the controller confirmed Ocala International Airport (OCF) as an alternate.
About 10 minutes later, the controller gave a heading of 320° to avoid extreme precipitation, expecting that heading for 35 miles. At 0857, as the motorglider passed OCF, the pilot asked about weather south of that airport. The controller explained that heavy precipitation was over and extending south of Gainesville Regional Airport, moving east, with a hole behind it about 25 miles west of Gainesville. She vectored the pilot toward that hole with a heading of 310°.
At 0902, the controller instructed a 10° left turn to avoid more heavy precipitation. The pilot questioned the turn and indicated he saw an area to the right that might allow passage. After the controller explained her display did not show precipitation altitude or buildups, the pilot chose to navigate on his own. At 0906, the controller asked how it looked; the pilot responded that it was smooth, with lightning to his right, and that he had just entered the clouds. No further transmissions were received. The controller attempted contact without success, and radar contact was lost at 0908:36.
A witness about 200 yards from the accident site reported hearing an airplane engine, then a loud pop like lightning, and saw the motorglider in his pasture.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiengine land rating, and private pilot privileges for single-engine land, single-engine sea, and glider. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued October 28, 2013, reporting 12,100 total flight hours. His logbook showed 92 hours in the accident aircraft as of April 2, 2017.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a two-seat, high-wing motorglider with a T-tail and fixed tricycle landing gear, powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine driving a three-bladed composite propeller. The flight manual prohibited flight under instrument flight rules or in instrument meteorological conditions, heavy rainfall, or thunderstorm activity. Per FAA Advisory Circular, the model met criteria to be registered as a glider, allowing the pilot to fly without a medical certificate.
Weather
At 0853, weather at Gainesville Regional Airport, about 15 nautical miles north of the accident site, included thunderstorms, moderate rain, mist, wind from 100° at 10 knots gusting to 18 knots, ceiling broken at 4,300 ft and overcast at 7,500 ft, visibility 5 statute miles. Weather radar showed heavy to extreme precipitation, convective cells, and lightning at the accident location. Radar velocity data indicated winds conducive to rotation and potential tornadic activity. Convective SIGMETs warned of severe thunderstorms with tops above 45,000 ft and wind gusts to 50 knots. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 0900 and a tornado warning at 0910. The pilot had received multiple official weather briefings that included these warnings.
Wreckage and Impact
The motorglider impacted a grass pasture in an approximate 90° nose-down attitude. All major components were accounted for except the left wing, flaperon, and one propeller blade. The main wreckage was fragmented within a 75-ft diameter. The engine was buried about 3 ft deep. A large section of the left wing was found about 4.5 miles south, and the left flaperon was located about 3.5 miles south a month later. The electronic flight instrument system was severely damaged; no data could be recovered.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Forensic toxicology detected Flecainide and Loratadine, neither considered impairing, and ethanol consistent with postmortem production.