# NTSB CEN12LA678: Infinity 2003, N70319, Merrill, MI, September 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 2012, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Merrill, MI - Coordinates: 43.462501, -84.36444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4625&lon=-84.3644&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 85531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA678 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85531/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85531 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA678 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to attempt a takeoff from midfield, resulting in a collision with trees at the departure end of the field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05901ZB), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05901ZB), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=05901ZB), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Infinity 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05901ZB), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot began the takeoff from the runway midpoint at a private airstrip and failed to clear trees at the departure end. The powered parachute hit the trees and impacted terrain, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2012, about 1815 central daylight time, an Infinity 2003, N70319, struck trees during takeoff from a private airstrip in Merrill, Michigan. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The powered parachute aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating from at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, he began his takeoff roll from the runway midpoint at his private airstrip and failed to clear trees at the departure end, resulting in what he described as a forced landing. FAA was notified on October 31, and an inspector went to the scene on November 6, 2012. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was notified of the accident on November 7, 2012. Photographs revealed the powered parachute had sustained substantial damage. The entire engine mount and parachute attachment truss structure was deformed. One of the truss members was fractured. The FAA inspector advised that the aircraft's airworthiness certificate had expired, and the pilot did not have a current flight review. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70319](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70319-2014-06-12), registration cancelled 2014-06-12, S/N ALLJOM, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Infinity 2003 - Registry model: [Infinity 2003](https://openairdocs.org/model/infinity-2003) (registry code 05901ZB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: ALLJOM - Airframe hours: 130 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William D. Lindsay - Registered owner: Lindsay William D Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 23, 2012 - Departed: NONE, Merrill, MI - Destination: Merrill, MI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: NONE, Private Residence, runway 09, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; sport pilot, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review July 13, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 135 total, 48 in this make and model, 79 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KMBS, 21 nm away ## 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 20120926024069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120926024069A), Sep 26, 2012: Infinity 2003, Merrill, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to clear trees at the end of the departure runway. Takeoff initiated at runway midpoint. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85531. 572 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381263&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Statement Submitted to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381264&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20Submitted%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - E-Mail from NTSB's Aerospace Engineer (Structures) (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=E-Mail%20from%20NTSB%27s%20Aerospace%20Engineer%20(Structures)-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Fractured parachute attachment truss (item 4, .PDF, 197 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fractured%20parachute%20attachment%20truss-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Deformed engine mounts (item 5, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Deformed%20engine%20mounts-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.