Pilot Debrief

Six Chuter, Inc Skye Ryder Aerochute near Tooele, UT — 2011-06-19

Final reportWPR11LA270
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Date
2011-06-19
Location
Tooele, UT, USA
Aircraft
Six Chuter, Inc Skye Ryder Aerochute
Registration
UNREG
Category
Powered parachute
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Preflight

Probable cause

The operation of a powered parachute by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct a flight in a strong gusty wind.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to conduct a flight in a strong gusty wind.

NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot, who had made only four previous flights in the powered parachute (PPC), advised the individual who had been giving him instruction in the PPC that he was going to conduct a solo flight. Because the wind in the area where the pilot was going to fly was strong and gusty, the individual who had been giving him instruction advised him not to attempt a flight until he came to the area to check out the wind conditions. When the individual who had been providing the instruction got to the area where he expected the pilot to be waiting, he found that the pilot had already attempted a flight, and that the PPC had crashed. A postaccident examination of the PPC did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal flight operations. Because the wind in the area was gusting to about 35 mph, which, according to the PPC’s manufacturer, was beyond the limits of what a pilot with this amount of experience could be expected to handle, it is likely that the pilot lost control of the PPC while in flight.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have heeded instructor's warning about unsafe wind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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