# NTSB CEN26LA296: Para-Ski VX, Westport, SD, August 20, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 19, 2026, 19:20 local (Aug 20, 2026, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Westport, SD · 38224 117th Street
Westport, SD 57481
- Coordinates: 45.693322, -98.596337 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6933&lon=-98.5963&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA296
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203627/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA296

## Preliminary report

On August 19, 2026, about 1920 central daylight time, a Para-Ski VX powered parachute, C-IFBY, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Westport, South Dakota. The pilot sustained serious injuries, passenger 1 sustained fatal injuries, and passenger 2 sustained minor injuries. The powered parachute was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported that they observed the accident aircraft depart from a field towards the west. The witness looked away for about one minute, and when the witness looked back the aircraft had already impacted terrain. The aircraft impacted terrain, collided with a barbed wire fence, and came to rest on its side with substantial damage to the fuselage. Initial reports revealed that the pilot was seated in the front seat with passenger 1 seated in his lap and passenger 2 was seated in the rear seat as seen in figure 1. Figure 1. Seat configuration The accident aircraft does not meet the requirements as outlined in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 to be considered an ultralight vehicle. The aircraft fuel capacity exceeded 5 gallons and is configured for operation for more than a single occupant. The pilot holds an FAA remote pilot certificate for small unmanned aircraft systems. The powered parachute was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-IFBY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Para-Ski VX (NO SERIES)
- Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built
- Year built: 1996
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: None, Westport, SD
- Destination: None, Westport, SD
- Airport: None
- Equipment: None

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: KABR, 17 nm away
- METAR: METAR KABR 192353Z AUTO 17008KT 10SM CLR 26/18 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP128 T02560183 10272 20244 58007

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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