# NTSB WPR18LA071: Six Chuter Spirit, Marana, AZ, January 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 18, 2018, 17:30 local (Jan 19, 2018, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Marana, AZ - Coordinates: 32.320278, -111.25138 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3203&lon=-111.2514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96634 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96634/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96634 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18LA071 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The noncertificated pilots’ failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470), aircraft 2; cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) Two noncertificated pilots were conducting personal, local flights in their powered parachutes, one of which was a Six Chuter Spirit and the other of which was a Destiny XLT. The Six Chuter departed, followed by the Destiny. The Six Chuter pilot reported that, while cruising about 100 ft above ground level, he saw the Destiny on a northerly heading. At this time, he decided to maintain his altitude and heading and follow the Destiny because he was less experienced than the other pilot. However, he then saw the Destiny turn to a westerly heading, which put the Destiny on a direct path toward the Six Chuter. Seconds later, the Destiny impacted the Six Chuter, which then spun 180° and drifted backward while descending until ground impact. The Destiny entered a nose-down attitude and then rapidly descended without its parachute until ground impact. The Destiny pilot reported that he was unable to recall the accident details. A ground witness stated that both aircraft were in straight-and level-flight and that the engines sounded normal before impact. Although the sun was setting at the time of the accident, the investigation could not determine if it obstructed the Destiny pilot's vision or whether it was a factor in the accident. Both pilots reported that they their aircraft did not experience any mechanical anomalies during their flights. Based on the available information, it is likely that both pilots failed to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On January 18, 2018, about 1730 mountain standard time, an unregistered Six Chuter Spirit experimental, light sport powered parachute and an unregistered Destiny XLT experimental, light sport powered parachute were both substantially damaged when they were involved in an accident near Marana, Arizona. The Destiny pilot sustained serious injuries, and the Six Chuter pilot was not injured. Both aircraft were being operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. The pilot in the Six Chuter reported that, after being flown as a passenger for a few hours in a powered parachute, he was invited to fly the Six Chuter, which departed first, followed by the Destiny. The Six Chuter pilot added that, while cruising about 100 ft above ground level, he saw the Destiny on a northerly heading. At this time, he decided to maintain his altitude and heading and follow the Destiny because he was less experienced than the other pilot. However, he then saw the Destiny turn to a westerly heading, which put the Destiny on a direct path toward the Six Chuter. Seconds later, the Destiny impacted the Six Chuter, which then spun 180° and drifted backward while descending until ground impact. The Destiny entered a nose-down attitude and rapidly descended to the ground without its parachute. The Destiny pilot reported that he was unable to recall the accident details. A ground witness, who was about 1/2 mile from the accident site, stated that both aircraft were in straight-and level-flight and that the engines sounded normal before impact. The Six Chuter pilot reported that he had received a few hours of flight training in powered parachutes before the accident but that he had not received any formal training toward a private pilot certificate. The witness reported that the pilot of the Destiny had been flying powered parachutes for about 20 years. He did not hold a pilot certificate. According to the United States Naval Observatory Astronomic Applications Department, sunset was at 1744 on the day of the accident. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Six Chuter Spirit - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: unknown - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 102 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2018, 3 hours before - Departed: Marana, AZ - Destination: Marana, AZ - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Destiny XLT - Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built - Serial number: 001082-00 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: Marana, AZ - Destination: Marana, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 48; injuries: none; seat: center; restraint: 4-point - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 77; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: AVQ, 12 nm away ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96634. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot a (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6969575&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot b) (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11783606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR18LA071_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6968700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Weather-Rel.pdf - Record of conversations (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7029359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 455 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=6969061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.