Grazhopper TRIKE UNREG

Summary

On 24 June 2014 at about 02:00 local time, a Grazhopper TRIKE registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Ottawa, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

24 June 2014 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ottawa, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Skydive Chicago Airport (8N2)

Coordinates

41.3911, -88.7869

Aircraft

Grazhopper TRIKE

Registration

UNREG

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ottawa → Ottawa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA316

1 person died.

The noncertificated pilot’s improper decision to operate the powered-parachute at low altitude through mist in a confined area while he was impaired by multiple sedating medications, which resulted in his loss of control of the parachute and subsequent impact with water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot was conducting a personal local flight in a powered-parachute. The pilot reported that he was flying the powered-parachute at low altitude through mist over the spillway of a dam when the engine suddenly lost power. The powered-parachute subsequently impacted the surface of turbulent flood waters just below the dam. After impact, the deflated parachute canopy flew over and covered the top of the airframe, which was then submerged or partially submerged. The pilot was able to free himself; however, the passenger was not able to exit and was fatally injured. A police officer who interviewed the pilot about 5 hours after the accident reported that the pilot's speech pattern was rambling and that the pilot appeared to be "under the influence of something." Blood specimens collected from the pilot more than 6 hours after the accident showed high levels of alprazolam and hydrocodone and low levels of oxycodone and diazepam. Although the exact blood levels of all four medications at the time of the accident could not be determined, it is likely that all of these sedating drugs were present in the pilot's system at or well above the normal therapeutic range at the time of the accident. The high levels these drugs and the evidence of impairment described by the police officer just 5 hours after the accident indicate that the pilot was impaired by the effects of multiple sedating medications around the time of the accident, which likely effected his decision-making and flight skills.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.