{"id":"821c146f-2791-4ddc-9f5a-5b3938696585","slug":"pipistrel-alpha-electro-fatal-stadskanaal-2018-10-13","kind":"fatality","headline":"Fatal loss of control accident with Pipistrel Alpha Electro near Stadskanaal airfield, Netherlands","summary":"On 13 October 2018, an Italian-registered Pipistrel Alpha Electro (I-D057) crashed near Stadskanaal airfield in the Netherlands, killing the sole pilot. The Dutch Safety Board determined the accident was caused by a low airspeed situation close to stall speed, leading to a stall and incipient spin from which the aircraft did not recover. Contributing factors included the aircraft's full-span flaperons, unusual landing configuration of +25° flaps on base leg, lack of a stall warning system, and the pilot's limited experience with the Alpha Electro. The aircraft caught fire post-impact and was destroyed. This was the first accident worldwide with a Pipistrel Alpha Electro and the first with an electric-powered aircraft in the Netherlands.","occurredAt":"2018-10-13T12:48:00.000Z","reviewStatus":"reviewed","modelId":"5996920b-cd06-4b73-bf7e-d7387f0eeccf","deploymentId":"77f646e4-fbdd-40fb-bac6-53f66b1d05f3","companyId":"e6fb127e-7747-4a18-a132-771412369ea6","dataCenterId":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"severity":"critical","rootCauseCategory":null,"rootCauseDetail":null,"affectedUnitsCount":null,"affectedUnitsBasis":null,"remediationStatus":"remediated","regulatoryAction":"inquiry_opened","regulatoryBody":"other","propertyDamageEstimateUsd":null,"damageEstimateBasis":null,"bodilyInjurySeverity":null,"fatalityCount":null,"lossCostClass":null,"sourceQualityTier":null,"oshaRecordable":null,"oshaCaseNumber":null,"rootCauseDisclosed":null,"publicDisclosureDate":null,"insuranceClaimPublic":null,"formFactor":null,"latitude":null,"longitude":null,"autonomyClass":null,"legalOutcomeClass":"unknown","createdAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:48.919Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-23T15:14:15.796Z","model":{"id":"5996920b-cd06-4b73-bf7e-d7387f0eeccf","companyId":"e6fb127e-7747-4a18-a132-771412369ea6","modelName":"Velis Electro","slug":"pipistrel-velis-electro","description":"World's first EASA type-certified electric aircraft. Two-seat trainer producing zero emissions with 60 dBA noise levels. Approved for Day VFR pilot training in 30+ countries. The benchmark for certified electric aviation.","formFactor":"aerial","industryVertical":null,"environment":null,"maturityStage":"commercial","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByModelId":null,"specs":{"Noise":"60 dBA","Capacity":"2 seats","Emissions":"Zero","height_cm":"22.9","runtime_h":"1","weight_kg":"428","Operations":"Day VFR pilot training, 30+ countries","Propulsion":"All-electric","payload_kg":"172","Certification":"EASA type certificate (world's first for electric aircraft)","walk_speed_ms":"45.3"},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/","name":"pipistrel-aircraft.com","title":"Velis Electro - Pipistrel"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel_Velis_Electro","name":"Wikipedia","title":"Pipistrel Velis Electro"},{"url":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TCDS-EASA.A.573-issue-11.pdf","title":"EASA.A.573 type-certificate data sheet","sourceName":"European Union Aviation Safety Agency"},{"url":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/cool_timeline/velis-electro-receives-type-certification/","title":"Velis Electro receives type certification","sourceName":"Pipistrel"}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"manufacturerTermForTeleop":null,"keyFacts":[{"label":"Certification","value":"World's first EASA type-certified electric aircraft"},{"label":"Noise","value":"60 dBA"},{"label":"Deployed","value":"30+ countries"},{"label":"Two-seat electric aircraft","value":"Pipistrel describes Velis Electro as a two-seat electric aircraft for pilot training and recreational flying ([Velis Electro](https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/)).","sourceUrl":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/"},{"label":"EASA type certification","value":"Pipistrel and the EASA type-certificate data sheet identify Velis Electro under certificate EASA.A.573 ([EASA type-certificate data sheet](https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TCDS-EASA.A.573-issue-11.pdf)).","sourceUrl":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TCDS-EASA.A.573-issue-11.pdf"},{"label":"Day VFR training","value":"Pipistrel says Velis Electro is approved for pilot training in Day VFR operations ([Velis Electro](https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/)).","sourceUrl":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/"},{"label":"Electric propulsion","value":"Pipistrel identifies the certified E-811 electric engine as the propulsion system for Velis Electro ([Velis Electro type certification](https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/cool_timeline/velis-electro-receives-type-certification/)).","sourceUrl":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/cool_timeline/velis-electro-receives-type-certification/"}],"createdAt":"2026-08-17T18:21:47.617Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T22:35:26.863Z","unitsInFieldClaimed":null,"unitsInFieldVerified":null,"unitsManufacturedClaimed":null,"unitsManufacturedVerified":null,"unitsAsOf":null,"unitsSource":null,"salesModel":null,"priceUndisclosedSince":null,"autonomyClass":null,"autonomyStatement":null,"autonomyStatementSource":null,"demoForensics":null,"exportControlClass":null,"minCommitment":null,"warrantyTerms":null,"serviceModel":null,"productionRateClaimed":null,"productionRateEvidenced":null,"teleopRatioDisclosed":null,"interventionRateDisclosed":null},"deployment":{"id":"77f646e4-fbdd-40fb-bac6-53f66b1d05f3","modelId":"5996920b-cd06-4b73-bf7e-d7387f0eeccf","versionId":null,"locationId":"83fb7a28-93aa-4e7a-9eda-90e2580a1a29","operatorId":"b271aba9-ecbd-417b-8e19-53152d14641b","ownerId":null,"slug":"pipistrel-velis-electro-dayton-ohio-usa","status":"pilot","firstSeen":"2024-09-12T00:00:00.000Z","statusChangeReason":null,"contractType":null,"pilotOutcome":null,"endedAt":null,"unitsOnSite":null,"tasksPerformed":["delivery"],"shiftStructure":null,"hoursPerDay":6,"siteType":"airport","operatorConfirmed":null,"humanSupervisionOnsite":null,"locationPrecisionTier":"city_centroid","deploymentScale":"small_2_10","siteEnvironment":"outdoor","operatorType":null,"sourceQualityTier":2,"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/pipistrel-velis-electro-takes-flight-with-united-states-air-force/","label":"Pipistrel Velis Electro takes flight with United States Air Force","title":"Pipistrel Velis Electro takes flight with United States Air Force","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Skies Mag","publishedAt":"2024-09-12"}],"notes":"Two Velis Electro aircraft leased by AFWERX and MTSI for the US Air Force Agility Prime program to explore operational and training uses of electric aircraft.","keyFacts":[],"reviewNote":"Bulk approved — pre-existing deployment record","exposureHours":null,"deploymentMilesEstimate":null,"exposureBasis":null,"customerSegment":"logistics","scaleTier":"pilot_lt10","contractValueUsd":null,"contractValueBasis":null,"customerCompanyId":null,"customerExternalName":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T20:24:13.954Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T14:22:34.488Z"},"company":{"id":"e6fb127e-7747-4a18-a132-771412369ea6","name":"Pipistrel","slug":"pipistrel","description":"Slovenian electric aircraft pioneer and global leader in electric aviation, headquartered in Ajdovščina. Founded in 1989 by Ivo Boscarol, Pipistrel achieved the world's first EASA type-certification for a fully electric aircraft with the [Velis Electro](/models/velis-electro) in 2020. The company was acquired by [Textron](https://www.textron.com) in 2022 for 42M and now operates as part of Textron eAviation, maintaining its brand, HQ, and R&D in Slovenia.","status":"private","founded":1989,"hq":"Ajdovščina, Slovenia","hqLat":45.9121959,"hqLng":13.8760092,"hqGeocodedAt":"2026-08-23T21:19:12.691Z","hqAddress":null,"hqPrecision":null,"website":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com","fundingTotal":"242000000","type":"hardware","roles":["robot_maker"],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","heatIndex":75,"lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.pipistrel-aircraft.com/products/velis-electro/","name":"pipistrel-aircraft.com","title":"Velis Electro - Pipistrel"},{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipistrel_Velis_Electro","name":"Wikipedia","title":"Pipistrel Velis Electro"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"Founded","value":"1989"},{"label":"Certification","value":"Velis Electro — world's first EASA type-certified electric aircraft"},{"label":"Operations","value":"Certified for pilot training in 30+ countries"},{"label":"Parent company","value":"Textron (acquired 2022)"},{"label":"Expertise","value":"15+ years in electric flight"},{"label":"Noise","value":"60 dBA — ultra-quiet operation"},{"label":"Products","value":"Velis Electro, Alpha Trainer, Explorer, Voyager"},{"label":"Founder","value":"Ivo Boscarol"},{"label":"President & MD","value":"Gabriel Massey"},{"label":"Key milestone","value":"World's first EASA type-certified electric aircraft (Velis Electro, June 2020)"},{"label":"Units delivered","value":"2,500+ light aircraft since 1989 (company-reported)"},{"label":"Certified engine","value":"Pipistrel E-811 (EASA-certified May 2020)"}],"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"tickerSymbol":null,"stockExchange":null,"secCik":null,"revenueUsd":null,"revenueBasis":null,"revenueAsOf":null,"employeeCount":null,"employeeCountBasis":null,"employeeCountAsOf":null,"marketCapUsd":null,"marketCapAsOf":null,"marketCapSource":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T18:21:47.231Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-21T22:30:52.106Z"},"derived":{"status":"active"},"sources":[{"id":"6240d53f-41f4-4e62-ab6b-7326ec619a66","incidentId":"821c146f-2791-4ddc-9f5a-5b3938696585","url":"https://onderzoeksraad.nl/en/onderzoek/fatal-loss-of-control-pipistrel-alpha-electro-near-stadskanaal/","label":"Dutch Safety Board","publishedAt":"2020-07-10T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":null,"sourceName":"Dutch Safety Board","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:48.919Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:48.919Z"},{"id":"509b5df0-c274-442d-9838-eb613a8624fd","incidentId":"821c146f-2791-4ddc-9f5a-5b3938696585","url":"https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/216236","label":"Aviation Safety Network","publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":null,"sourceName":"Aviation Safety Network","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:48.919Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:48.919Z"}],"responses":[],"statusEvents":[{"id":"bd9b88f1-4268-4550-b387-9b349a716136","incidentId":"821c146f-2791-4ddc-9f5a-5b3938696585","status":"active","reason":null,"source":"agent:recon","effectiveAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:50.059Z","createdAt":"2026-08-17T20:23:50.059Z"}],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/pipistrel-alpha-electro-fatal-stadskanaal-2018-10-13","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/pipistrel-alpha-electro-fatal-stadskanaal-2018-10-13","headline":"Fatal loss of control accident with Pipistrel Alpha Electro near Stadskanaal airfield, Netherlands","description":"On 13 October 2018, an Italian-registered Pipistrel Alpha Electro (I-D057) crashed near Stadskanaal airfield in the Netherlands, killing the sole pilot. The Dutch Safety Board determined the accident was caused by a low airspeed situation close to stall speed, leading to a stall and incipient spin from which the aircraft did not recover. Contributing factors included the aircraft's full-span flaperons, unusual landing configuration of +25° flaps on base leg, lack of a stall warning system, and the pilot's limited experience with the Alpha Electro. The aircraft caught fire post-impact and was destroyed. This was the first accident worldwide with a Pipistrel Alpha Electro and the first with an electric-powered aircraft in the Netherlands.","identifier":"821c146f-2791-4ddc-9f5a-5b3938696585","datePublished":"2018-10-13T12:48:00.000Z","articleSection":"fatality","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":2,"primary_source_types":[]}}}