# NTSB ERA12CA462: Infinity Infinity 2003, N5627G, Wilmore, KY, July 16, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2012, 20:29 local (Jul 16, 2012, 00:29 UTC) - Place: Wilmore, KY - Coordinates: 37.890556, -84.688613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8906&lon=-84.6886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Louisville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA462 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84356/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84356 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA462 ## Probable cause A loss of lift on initial climb for unreported reasons, which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground. ## 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: [Infinity INFINITY 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05903OA), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05903OA), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05903OA), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05903OA), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Infinity INFINITY 2003, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903OA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the powered parachute was taking off and stated that he advanced the throttle to about two-thirds power and that the parachute “went from left to right.” He decreased the throttle, and the parachute stopped oscillating and “kitted up” correctly. He increased power and they became airborne in a slow climb about 30 mph and were approaching a tree line. The aircraft was not achieving lift, so he maneuvered the aircraft toward a cut in the trees. The nose of the airframe collided with the trees. He added power to level the airframe, and they collided with the ground. The aircraft sustained minor damage; the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot stated that he may have encountered a downdraft. The nearest airport to the crash site was located 15 miles to the northeast and the wind there was reported as calm. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal aircraft operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he advanced the throttle to about two-thirds and the parachute went from left to right. He decreased the throttle and the parachute stopped oscillating and kitted up correctly. He increased power and they became airborne in a slow climb at about 30 mph. He observed a tree line to his front. The aircraft was not achieving any lift so he maneuvered the aircraft towards a cut in the trees. The nose of the airframe collided with the trees. He added power to level the airframe and they collided with the ground hard. The aircraft sustained minor damage. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The pilot stated he may have encountered a downdraft. The nearest airport to the crash site was located 15 miles to the northeast. The winds at the airport were reported as calm. The pilot reported no pre-crash mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations before the accident. The reported loss of lift was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5627G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5627G), registered now, S/N IPP3-191, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: INFINITY INFINITY 2003 - Registry model: [Infinity INFINITY 2003](https://openairdocs.org/model/infinity-infinity-2003) (registry code 05903OA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: IPP3-191 - Airframe hours: 186 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ferrell Charles Steven - Registered owner: Ferrell Charles Steven - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 8, 2011, 49 hours before - Departed: Wilmore, KY - Destination: Wilmore, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; sport pilot; last flight review October 8, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 139 total, 127 in this make and model, 127 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 15 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 20120715015539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120715015539A), Jul 15, 2012: Infinity INFINITY 2003, Wilmore, KY, Minor damage. N5627G powered parachute accident Part 91, sport pilot, experimental light sport, powered parachute. Date of accident: 07/15/2012 Pilot stated a group of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84356. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 733 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement To FAA (item 2, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20To%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 221 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-View of aircraft at crash site. Photo FAA (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40373164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-View%20of%20aircraft%20at%20crash%20site.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.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. --- 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.