Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hooper, Utah 84315
Monday, September 7, 2009 15:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certificated pilot and passenger were conducting a local low altitude flight in an unregistered experimental powered parachute over a crowd of spectators at an event. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he passed over a series of power lines and he “lost lift” and “could not recover.” Subsequently, the aircraft impacted terrain within the crowd of spectators and rolled over. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the powered parachute at the time of the accident. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) was not received from the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate airspeed for the powered parachute while maneuvering at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/7/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1510
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Hooper
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84315
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411144N
Event Location Longitude 1120046W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID OGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 4473
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries 4
On Ground, Serious Injuries 2
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 6
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 8
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26493
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 13 2010 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number WPR09LA442
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Six Chuter
Aircraft Model SR 7
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight 800
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael Higley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hooper
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84315
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Michael Higley
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hooper
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 84315
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Hooper
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Hooper
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 15 2010 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --