# NTSB CEN23LA376: Sixchuter Spirit XL, N538DR, Hovland, MN, August 18, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 18, 2023, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Hovland, MN · Lake Superior
- Coordinates: 47.843778, -89.938583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8438&lon=-89.9386&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- 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): 192921
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192921/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192921
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA376

## Probable cause

The collision with the lake by a noncertificated pilot for reasons that could not be determined.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Sixchuter SPIRIT XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05901QU), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Sixchuter SPIRIT XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05901QU), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N538DR), registered now, S/N 2879, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIXCHUTER SPIRIT XL
- Registry model: [Sixchuter SPIRIT XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/sixchuter-spirit-xl) (registry code 05901QU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Powered parachute
- Serial number: 2879
- Year built: 2003
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- 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

## 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 20230818012939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230818012939A), Aug 18, 2023: Sixchuter SPIRIT XL, Grand Marais, MN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On August 18, 2023 at approximately 1830 local time the PIC, a non-rated pilot, took off from private Property with an expected return time to the same…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192921. 1.9 MB in all.

- Correspondence with FAA inspector (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16347749&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Information from pilot's fiancee (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16423909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20information%20from%20Fiancee-Rel.pdf
- Weather information near level with lake superior (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16361570&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Grand%20Marais,%20MN%20Weather-Rel.pdf
- Weather information about 1,200 ft above lake superior (item 4, PDF, 8 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16362300&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CKC%20Observation%20History%20(Grand%20Marais,%20MN)%20-%2008_18_2023-Rel.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.

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