- Date
- April 7, 2009, 18:09 local (Apr 8, 2009, 01:09 UTC)
- Place
- Vancouver, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N16503Hiller Sixchuter Legend XL
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090407004429A
- Case key
- 73633
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain/maintain adequate airspeed to become airborne within the distance available for takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot attempted a takeoff in his experimental light sport aircraft (powered parachute). On previous occasions, he had successfully become airborne from his backyard. The pilot indicated that during acceleration he was unable to gain adequate lift due to the "stagnant air condition." There was little or no wind and the airplane was carrying a passenger. The powered parachute impacted a garage. The student pilot further reported that he was working on obtaining a sport pilot certificate. The pilot reported that he experienced no preimpact mechanical malfunction with the aircraft.
Factual narrative
The student pilot attempted a takeoff in his experimental light sport aircraft (powered parachute). On previous occasions, he had successfully become airborne from his backyard. The pilot indicated that during acceleration he was unable to gain adequate lift due to the "stagnant air condition." There was little or no wind. Also, he was carrying a passenger. The powered parachute collided into a garage. The student pilot further reported that he was working on obtaining a sport pilot certificate. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction was experienced with the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16503
- Reported as
- Hiller Sixchuter Legend XL
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 3018
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- Vancouver, WA
- Destination
- Vancouver, WA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 50
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Student
- Flight hours
- 75 total · 25 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 412 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.