Infinity 2000 N541KP

Summary

On 11 May 2012 at about 14:30 local time, a Infinity 2000 registered N541KP was involved in an accident near Hurricane, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 May 2012 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hurricane, Utah, United States

Coordinates

37.2000, -113.3203

Aircraft

Infinity 2000

Registration

N541KP

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hurricane → Hurricane

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA205

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in a canyon, which resulted in insufficient altitude to recover from an encounter with terrain-induced turbulence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during a local flight in the powered parachute, he descended into a river canyon and proceeded downstream at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet above the canyon bottom. As he reached an area where the canyon narrowed, the pilot encountered terrain-induced turbulence and gusting wind that resulted in the powered parachute descending to within 10 feet of the canyon floor. When the pilot attempted to regain altitude, the gondola of the powered parachute impacted a rock outcropping. The pilot stated that he likely encountered an air mass that was moving up the canyon and gained velocity due to the narrowing of the canyon, creating the turbulence and gusts. He noted that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining a higher altitude above the ground when flying in such terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.