# Accident 20181117022669A: Melbourne Beach, FL, November 17, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 17, 2018, 17:15 local time
- Place: Melbourne Beach, FL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Ultralight vehicle (Part 103)
- Location: 28.0669° N, 80.5596° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melbourne Beach, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0669&lon=-80.5596&mi=10
- Aircraft: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported engine: VITTORAZI MOTORS UNKNOWN
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181117022669A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT WAS FLYING A POWERED PARACHUTE NEAR THE BEACH IN MELBOURNE BEACH, FL.  WITNESSES SAW THE PILOT HEAD TOWARDS THE GOLF COURSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MAIN ROAD.  THIS PATH TOOK THE AIRCRAFT ACROSS THE POWER LINES  ALONG THE ROAD.  A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT BARELY MAKE IT OVER THE POWER LINES AS IT HEADED TOWARDS THE GOLF COURSE.  THE PILOT DID NOT FLY TO THE GOLF COURSE AND HEADED BACK TO THE BEACH.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER THE POWER LINES THE SECOUND TIME.

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE POWER LINES APPROXIMATELY 1710-1715 LOCAL TIME.  THE PARACHUTE STAYED TANGLED IN THE POWER LINES AND THE PILOT WITH THE MOTOR FELL TO GROUND.  AFTER THE PILOT FELL A FIRE STARTED AND BYSTANDARDS CAME TO HIS AID.

THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.  THE PILOT'S SPOUSE STATED THAT THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT BUT HAD DONE SOME TRAINING PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT.  IT IS UNKNOWN WHY THE PILOT STRUCK THE POWER LINES.   A WITNESS STATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PROPELLER STOPPED JUST BEFORE THE PILOT TRIED TO CROSS THE POWER LINES THE SECOUND TIME.  POWERPLANT FAILURE MAY BE FACTOR.  HOWEVER THE PILOT HAS NOT BEEN AVAILBLE FOR INTERVIEW.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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