# NTSB SEA02LA162: Infinity Powered Parachute, Lewistown, MT, June 29, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2002, 21:15 local (Jun 29, 2002, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Lewistown, MT
- Coordinates: 46.983333, -109.333335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9833&lon=-109.3333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA162
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55578/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55578
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA162

## Probable cause

Inadequate preflight planning and inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions.  High wind conditions was a factor in the accident.

## Analysis

The non-certified pilot reported that he was attempting an off-airport landing in an effort to avoid approaching thunderstorms and associated high wind conditions.  He stated that on his fourth landing attempt, the powered parachute encountered a strong crosswind that "... blew us into the ground."  The pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be 70-80 miles per hour.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 2002, about 2115 mountain daylight time, an unregistered Infinity two-place powered parachute sustained substantial damage during a precautionary off-airport landing five miles southeast of Lewistown, Montana.  The powered parachute is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a personal/pleasure flight in visual meteorological conditions.  The non-certified pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries.  The flight originated from the pilot's ranch near Lewistown, Montana.

In a written statement, dated September 10, the pilot reported that he was attempting an off-airport landing in an effort to avoid approaching thunderstorms and associated high wind conditions.  The pilot reported that on his fourth landing attempt, the aircraft encountered a strong crosswind that "... blew us into the ground."  The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the airframe assembly.

The pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be 70-80 miles per hour.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Infinity Powered Parachute
- Category: Ultralight
- Airframe hours: 70
- Engines: Rotax 520 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Richard T. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Lewistown, MT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; seat: rear; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KLWT, 5 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55578. 305 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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