- Date
- July 1, 2023, 20:00 local (Jul 2, 2023, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Chetek, WI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6365ASix Chuter SR7 XL
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20230701010989A
- Case key
- 192502
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 pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during initial climb which resulted in an impact with a pole, trees, and terrain.
Findings · 3
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 stated that after he had performed a preflight inspection of the powered parachute and allowed the engine to warm up, he moved the powered parachute into position for takeoff. Prior to takeoff, he applied full engine power and watched the canopy rise and then reduced engine power and checked the canopy lines. He applied full engine power for takeoff, and the powered parachute lifted with no issues. However, when he looked down, the powered parachute was not climbing and headed toward trees. The pilot attempted to adjust the flight path to avoid the trees, but the powered parachute impacted a pole, the trees, and then descended into the ground. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the frame. The pilot stated there was no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6365A
- Reported as
- Six Chuter SR7 XL
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- SC1999CS
- Built
- 1999
- Airframe hours
- 287.7
- Engine
- Rotax 582/90, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · March 26, 2023 · 287.7 hours before
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- Y23 · Chetek Municipal/Southworth Airport, runway 35, 3,401 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 57
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Private, Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 2, 2022
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 177 total · 28 in this make and model · 150 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
- Observed at
- Y23, 0.5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB 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.