# NTSB ERA15CA036: Six Chuter SR7 XL, Fairview, NC, October 14, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 14, 2014, 19:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Fairview, NC - Coordinates: 35.168888, -80.504997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1689&lon=-80.5050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA036 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot's delayed go-around procedure, which resulted in collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total flying experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot/owner reported that he was self-taught in his unregistered powered parachute, as he believed it was an "unregulated machine" and had performed 10 flights prior to the accident flight. The pilot stated that he was flying in the evening, it was getting dark, and he feared he would not return to his home airstrip before complete darkness so he decided to perform a precautionary landing in a field. Due to the decreased visibility, and the field conditions, he felt his approach angle was too steep, and initiated a go-around; however, the powered parachute was unable to out-climb the trees at the departure end of the field. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe, and serious injury to the pilot/owner, who reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The non-certificated pilot/owner reported that he was self-taught in his unregistered powered parachute, as he believed it was an "unregulated machine" and had performed 10 flights prior to the accident flight. The pilot stated that he was flying in the evening, it was getting dark, and he feared he would not return to his home airstrip before complete darkness so he decided to perform a precautionary landing in a field. Due to the decreased visibility, and the field conditions, he felt his approach angle was too steep, and initiated a go-around; however, the powered parachute was unable to out-climb the trees at the departure end of the field. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe, and serious injury to the pilot/owner, who reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SIX CHUTER SR7 XL - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 98-2052 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul Dowdey - Registered owner: Paul Dowdey - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: Stanfield, NC - Destination: Stanfield, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.12 inHg - Observed at: KEQY, 12 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90339. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 460 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Information Email (item 2, .PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420386&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Information%20Email-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – View of Powered Parachute after Recovery (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 864 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420387&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Powered%20Parachute%20after%20Recovery%20(FAA)-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.