20120511006939A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Infinity 2000 · Hurricane, UT · May 11, 2012

Date: May 11, 2012 · 08:30 local
Place: Hurricane, UT
Airport: General Dick Stout Field
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N541KP
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR12LA205
Reported as: Infinity 2000
Reported engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,250 total350 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N541KPRegistered now · Infinity 2000S/N IPP2-090 · Built 2002 Airframe modelInfinity 2000 Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On may 11, 2012, at approximately 0830 MDT while cruising down a ravine in a powered parachute with light winds at about 5 knots, the pilot suddenly encountered a downdraft. He was unable to climb and turn sufficiently to avoid hitting an outcropping of rocks. His aircraft hit the top of the rocks about one (1) foot from the top, causing it to flip inverted where it came to rest.

As the FAA filed it

ON MAY 11, 2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 MDT WHILE CRUISING DOWN A RAVINE IN A POWERED PARACHUTE WITH LIGHT WINDS AT ABOUT 5 KNOTS, THE PILOT SUDDENLY ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT. HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND TURN SUFFICIENTLY TO AVOID HITTING AN OUTCROPPING OF ROCKS. HIS AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOP OF THE ROCKS ABOUT ONE (1) FOOT FROM THE TOP, CAUSING IT TO FLIP INVERTED WHERE IT CAME TO REST.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR12LA205Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHurricane, UTThe pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in a canyon, which resulted in insufficient altitude to recover from an encounter with terrain-induced turbulence.May 11, 2012 · Substantial damage