# NTSB WPR13LA135: Summit II, N8028X, Quartzsite, AZ, February 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 2013, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Quartzsite, AZ - Coordinates: 33.744445, -114.476943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7444&lon=-114.4769&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86312/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86312 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA135 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering shifting wind, which resulted in collision with a windsock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Summit II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059029F), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wind sock](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Summit II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030/cases.md?model=059029F), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Summit II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059029F), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Summit II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=059029F), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Summit II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059029F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness located adjacent to the accident site reported that the powered parachute took off to the north into the wind. The witness reported that, shortly after the wheels lifted off the ground, the wind shifted from the north to the south-southeast and that the powered parachute veered to the east. Subsequently, the parachute cables struck a windsock, and the powered parachute impacted the ground. The wife of the noncertificated pilot reported that he did not recall anything about the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 2013, about 1030 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur built Summit II, N8028X, was substantially damaged during takeoff at a private airport near Quartzsite, Arizona. The powered parachute was registered to a private individual, and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-certificated pilot and his passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. In a written statement, a witness located near the accident site reported that the pilot was taking off in a northerly direction. Shortly after the wheels lifted off the ground, the wind shifted from the north to the south-southeast. The witness stated that the powered parachute veered to the east, and was under full power and ascending. Subsequently, the parachute cables struck a windsock, and the powered parachute impacted the ground. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the wife of the pilot reported that the pilot did not recall anything prior to or the accident sequence. Examination of the powered parachute by local law enforcement revealed that the airframe structure was substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8028X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8028X-2018-02-26), registration cancelled 2018-02-26, S/N 3012, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SUMMIT II - Registry model: [Summit II](https://openairdocs.org/model/summit-ii) (registry code 059029F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 3012 - Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bill Housch - Registered owner: Howard Darold - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Quartzsite, AZ - Destination: Quartzsite, AZ - Airport: Private, runway 35, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; seat: left; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: BLH, 20 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 20130225003009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130225003009A), Feb 25, 2013: Summit II, Quartzsite, AZ, Substantial damage. On 02/25/2013 at 0930 PST in Quartzsite, AZ, N8028X, Summit ii powered parachute, crashed on departure from a private dirt airstrip at 2020 w. main st. there… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86312. 2.0 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Wife of the Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Wife%20of%20the%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Correspondence (item 3, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Correspondence-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the accident site, windsock pole, and powered parachute. Courtesy of local law enforcement. (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40398898&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20accident%20site,%20windsock%20pole,%20and%20powered%20parachute.%20Courtesy%20of%20local%20law%20enforcement.-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.