- Date
- January 11, 2012, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place
- Alanson, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3902VInfinity Power Parachutes Classic 2002
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of lift
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120111000379A
- Case key
- 82671
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The powered parachute’s encounter with a downdraft/windshear during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of lift.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger departed from a hayfield in the powered parachute. The pilot reported that, just after takeoff, when the powered parachute was 20 to 25 feet in the air, the powered-parachute lost lift and descended. During the forced landing and collision with trees, the powered parachute received substantial damage to its airframe. The pilot added that he was unable to climb or turn the powered parachute. A witness reported that, when the powered parachute was about the same height as the trees, it looked like the powered parachute was caught in a downdraft and the canopy partially collapsed. The witness said that the canopy re-inflated just before the powered parachute impacted trees. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot and passenger departed from a hayfield in the powered-parachute. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, when the powered parachute was 20 to 25 feet in the air, the powered-parachute lost lift and descended. The pilot added that he was unable to climb or turn the powered-parachute. A witness reported that when the powered-parachute was about the same height as the trees, it looked like the powered-parachute got caught in a downdraft and the canopy partly collapsed. The witness added the canopy re-inflated just before the powered-parachute impacted trees. During the forced landing and collision with trees, the powered-parachute received substantial damage to its airframe. The pilot added that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3902V
- Reported as
- Infinity Power Parachutes Classic 2002
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- IPP2-137
- Airframe hours
- 100.4
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 12, 2011
- Departed
- Alanson, MI
- Destination
- Alanson, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2010
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 633 total · 15 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.60 inHg
- Observed at
- KPLN, 8 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 585 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.