History of Flight
On June 30, 2020, at 1324 Pacific daylight time, an Aviastroitel AC-5M motorglider, N263R, was destroyed during an accident near Bend, Oregon. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot was departing in the self-launching motorglider. A video recording of the takeoff roll showed that the glider’s right wing remained low for much of the roll. The video did not capture the initial climb or the accident sequence. One witness reported that after becoming airborne, the glider climbed rapidly, then banked to the right and entered a dive to ground contact. Another witness stated that shortly after takeoff the glider "went directly vertical," then banked right before diving toward the ground. A postcrash fire ensued, destroying the glider.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and glider. His most recent FAA medical certificate was issued in April 2004, at which time he reported 1,500 total hours of flight experience. He completed BasicMed requirements in February 2020. His recent flight experience and experience in the accident make and model of glider were not determined.
Aircraft Information
FAA records indicate that the glider was originally issued an airworthiness certificate in the Experimental – Exhibition category on October 28, 2002. It was subsequently exported to Canada and later re-imported to the United States when the pilot purchased it in February 2018. An airworthiness certificate application completed by the pilot around the time of purchase indicated a total airframe time of 26.3 hours. The glider’s total time at the time of the accident could not be determined.
Wreckage and Impact Information
According to local law enforcement, the glider came to rest on airport property near the departure end of the runway. The glider was almost entirely consumed by postimpact fire, except for the left wing. The wreckage was not examined and was disposed of before examination could occur; thus, whether any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies contributed to the accident could not be determined.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s office determined the cause of death as generalized blunt force trauma and the manner as accident. The pilot had an implanted pacemaker/defibrillator that was not interrogated. No other significant natural disease was identified. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected the antidepressant duloxetine in cavity blood (45 ng/mL) and liver tissue; the antidepressant amitriptyline and its metabolite nortriptyline were detected in liver tissue, with nortriptyline also in cavity blood (699 ng/mL). Non-impairing medications (atorvastatin, tamsulosin, metoprolol) were also detected.