# NTSB CEN20CA275: Condor Condor, N3502X, Freedom, WI, July 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2020, 20:30 local (Jul 5, 2020, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Freedom, WI - Coordinates: 44.376388, -88.271385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3764&lon=-88.2714&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101580/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101580 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA275 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to initiate a climb in a timely manner which resulted in contact with wires. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Condor CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05903G6), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Condor CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05903G6), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Condor CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05903G6), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Condor CONDOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05903G6), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said he was flying over his home's driveway with a passenger so a family member could take pictures as he flew over. He said he descended to an altitude he thought was above wires at the end of his driveway, which he estimated were 25 ft above the ground. As he tracked along the driveway he added full power to climb when he was about 500 ft from the wires, but the powered parachute climbed slowly and the left wheel caught a wire. The aircraft descended into the ground, substantially bending and damaging the aircraft's fuselage structure that included the parachute attachment point. The pilot indicated there were no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft that contributed to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot said he was flying over his home's driveway with a passenger so a family member could take pictures as he flew over. He said he descended to an altitude he thought was above wires at the end of his driveway, which he estimated were 25 ft above the ground. As he tracked along the driveway he added full power to climb when he was about 500 ft from the wires, but the powered parachute climbed slowly and the left wheel caught a wire. The aircraft descended into the ground, substantially bending and damaging the aircraft's fuselage structure that included the parachute attachment point. The pilot indicated there were no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft that contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3502X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3502X), registered now, S/N A114CDR, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONDOR CONDOR - Registry model: [Condor CONDOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/condor-condor) (registry code 05903G6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582ULDCDI-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582uldcdi-99) (registry code 55560, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: A114CDR - Year built: 2003 - Engines: Rotax 582ULDCDI-99 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2007, 89 hours before - Departed: Oneida, WI - Destination: Freedom, WI - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 27, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 287 total, 50 in this make and model, 287 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 20200704005289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200704005289A), Jul 4, 2020: Southern Power Parachute CONDOR, Kaukaukana, WI, Substantial damage. With light winds from the southeast, the pilot departed from his 700 foot east/west driveway to the northeast and landed at a nearby grass runway. He picked up… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101580. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 4, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486799&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. --- 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.