# NTSB CEN09CA588: Powrachute Airwolf, N6126B, New London, OH, September 15, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2009, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: New London, OH
- Coordinates: 39.853889, -83.267776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8539&lon=-83.2678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Columbus FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA588
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74744/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74744
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA588

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05901JO), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=05901JO), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05901JO), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05901JO), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901JO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The instructional flight in the powered parachute was departing when the student pilot suddenly turned the aircraft to the left while climbing. The flight instructor then turned the aircraft to the right and added full power, but the aircraft contacted a utility line that was in several pine trees along the planned takeoff path. The aircraft then descended and its parachute contacted treetops before falling to the ground and damaging the frame adjacent to the propeller, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor was uninjured and the student pilot sustained serious injuries.

## Factual narrative

The instructional flight in a powered parachute was departing from the instructor's residence when the student pilot "unexpectedly" turned the aircraft to the left while climbing. The flight instructor then turned the aircraft to the right and added full power, but the aircraft contacted a utility line that was in several pine trees about 21-28 feet in height along the planned takeoff path. The aircraft then descended and its parachute contacted treetops that were adjacent to a road across from the instructor's residence. The aircraft then fell to the ground, damaging the frame adjacent to the propeller, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor was uninjured and the student pilot sustained serious injuries.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6126B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6126B), registered now, S/N A089ULS, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Powrachute LLC Airwolf
- Registry model: [Powrachute AIRWOLF](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-airwolf) (registry code 05902LK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Powered parachute
- Serial number: A089ULS
- Airframe hours: 76
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Real Aviators LLC
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2008
- Departed: New London, OH
- Destination: New London, OH
- Airport: Private

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 23, 2008; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,876 total, 84 in this make and model, 3,936 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 3 total, 3 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090915049549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090915049549A), Sep 15, 2009: Powrachute AIRWOLF, London, OH, Substantial damage. During takeoff from [privacy data omitted] front yard, N6126B, a light sport power-parachute was unable to climb and clear the power lines south west of its…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74744. 801 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 801 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320408&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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