# NTSB CEN20CA387: Powrachute Airwolf, N465JP, Casco, MI, August 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 11, 2020, 19:31 local (23:31 UTC) - Place: Casco, MI - Coordinates: 42.735279, -82.629447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7353&lon=-82.6294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 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): 101937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA387 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA387 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff towards known obstacles which resulted in an impact with a power line. ## 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: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=069001L), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were conducting a local flight in a powered parachute from a grass field. The pilot elected to take off to the north-northwest to take advantage of the light wind from that direction instead of taking off to the northeast with a light crosswind. The pilot was aware of trees and powerlines on the departure route to the northwest but thought he could turn left after takeoff to avoid the obstructions. The powered parachute did not climb as quickly as usual during the left turn so the pilot turned back to the right thinking he could parallel the power lines. The powered parachute did not turn as quickly as expected and continued to climb toward the power lines. The pilot thought he had cleared the power lines, but the parachute impacted the static wire above the power lines, which collapsed the parachute, and the airframe fell to the ground. The airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute that contributed to the accident and said he should have taken off to the northeast and accepted the light crosswind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N465JP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N465JP), registered now, S/N A165ULS, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Powrachute AIRWOLF (912) - Registry model: [Powrachute AIRWOLF 912 ULS](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-airwolf-912-uls) (registry code 069001L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built - Serial number: A165ULS - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 382 - Engines: Honda Viking 110 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: NA, Casco, MI - Destination: NA, Casco, MI - Airport: NA, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 520 total, 147 in this make and model, 281 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Observed at: KMTC ## 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 20200811013619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200811013619A), Aug 11, 2020: Powrachute LLC AIRWOLF 912 ULS, Casco, MI, Substantial damage. On 11 August 2020 at approximately 7:25 EST. The pilot departed the field of a local friend to take his granddaughter for a ride in his power parachute. The… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101937. 14.9 MB in all. - Pilot's statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11343867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11343786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation-Pilot-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385499&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20copy_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11434901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 5, MP4, 9.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11487916&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=CEN20CA387%20-%20Video%20(Cropped)-Rel.mp4 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.