Destiny XLT N1674A
24 August 2012 · Hart, Michigan, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 24 August 2012 at about 22:00 local time, a Destiny XLT registered N1674A was involved in an accident near Hart, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hart, Michigan, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.6781, -86.5103
- Aircraft
- Destiny XLT
- Registration
- N1674A
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN12LA578
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The partial deflation of the powered parachute canopy when the pilot flew the aircraft into an area with gusty wind conditions. Contributing to the accident were the modifications that changed the flying characteristics of the parachute.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was flying his powered parachute on a local flight when he encountered a strong and gusty tailwind. A video showed that the powered parachute cart then rocked fore and aft, while the parachute canopy moved fore and aft above the cart until the left side of the parachute canopy deformed and collapsed. The powered parachute then entered a descending left spiral. During the descent the left side of the parachute reinflated, and the powered parachute impacted terrain nose down with a partially inflated canopy. A postaccident examination of the wreckage and the video of the accident revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The powered parachute ram-air canopy retains its airfoil shape because of the relative wind airflow entering its front openings. Examination of the accident powered parachute revealed that modifications to lower the canopy's angle of attack had been made, to allow for quicker rotation and additional forward speed. However, these modifications decreased the canopy's angle of attack such that it would partially collapse when wind gusts were encountered.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Destiny XLT accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2009 | Destiny XLT | Athens, Georgia, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2020 | Destiny XLT | Frankfort, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 2022 | Destiny XLT | Oneonta, Alabama, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Feb 2012 | Boeing 737-832 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Delta Air Lines Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Jul 2012 | Beechcraft 58 | Sugar Loaf Mountain, Michigan, United States | Dotaero L L C | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 2012 | Piper PA-32-260 | Applegate, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 2012 | Piper PA-28-180 | Hillsdale, Michigan, United States | Clarence J Avery | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Nov 2012 | Cessna 310B | Mancelona, Michigan, United States | Crawford Roger W | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Jun 2012 | Piper PA-22-135 | Bangor, Michigan, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |