WPR09LA426

The sport pilot was participating in a sponsored powered parachute fly-in, and he was attempting to land at the designated site. The pilot was flying in an easterly direction at a low altitude and did not initially observe power lines that were about 50 feet above ground level. Just before impacting one of the lines, the pilot saw it and increased engine power; however, his actions were too late. The pilot's powered parachute impacted the line and thereafter fell to the ground. Other pilots who had been flying in the area reported that it was hard to see the wires while looking toward the east, due to the bright sun.

On August 29, 2009, about 0805 Pacific daylight time, a Six-Chuter American Spirit, N9184F, collided with a residential power line and crashed on short final approach to an open field near Brownsville, Oregon. The experimental powered parachute was owned and operated by the sport pilot, and it was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot initiated the flight from near Brownsville about 0705. The accident occurred during a fly-in sponsored by the Northwest Powered Parachute Coalition, Chapter 127 EAA, according to its on-scene representative. About the time of the accident, an estimated 20 to 30 other aircraft were flying in the vicinity of the designated landing site, which was an open field. The representative reported that the pilot flew a low final approach path and was proceeding in an easterly direction toward the sun. The pilot's powered parachute collided with the top power line, which was not marked. The impact site was about 50 feet above ground level. After the collision, the pilot lost control of his powered parachute. The parachute's fuselage crashed into the field and came to rest in an upright attitude with a bent frame. A Linn County deputy sheriff interviewed the passenger and the pilot. The passenger reported that the accident had occurred as they were coming in for a landing. The passenger heard the pilot say something about a power line, and thereafter accelerated the engine to try to gain altitude. However, the aircraft's front wheel caught the power line, and they crashed. The deputy sheriff interviewed the pilot. The sheriff reported that the pilot did not recall anything other than that he was trying to land, and at the last second he observed a power line. Another Linn County deputy sheriff interviewed two other pilots who had been flying in the area about the time of the accident. The sheriff reported that these pilots stated it was hard to see the wires while looking toward the east, due to the bright sun. The sport pilot did not file an Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB form 6120, with the National Transportation Safety Board.