- Date
- August 18, 2023, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Hovland, MN · Lake Superior
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Unknown
- Aircraft
- N538DRSixchuter Spirit XL
- Defining event
- Unknown: Unknown or undetermined
- 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
- 20230818012939A
- Case key
- 192921
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 collision with the lake by a noncertificated pilot for reasons that could not be determined.
Findings · 1
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 non-certificated pilot departed in the powered parachute on a local flight. When the pilot did not return for landing, search and rescue efforts were initiated that located the deceased pilot in a lake in about 44 ft of water. The aircraft was not located. Flight track information for the flight was not available. The pilot never held a medical certificate, and no pilot or maintenance logbooks were made available to the investigation. An autopsy of the pilot was performed, and the cause of death was hypothermia and drowning. Toxicology testing was negative for screened drugs and alcohol.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N538DR
- Reported as
- Sixchuter Spirit XL
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 2879
- Built
- 2003
- Engine
- Rotax 528E, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- PRI · Hovland, MN
- Destination
- PRI · Hovland, MN
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
- 73
- Injuries
- Fatal
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 40 total · 40 in this make and model · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
- Observed at
- KGNA, 8 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 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.