Powrachute AIRWOLF N465JP

Summary

On 11 August 2020 at about 23:31 local time, a Powrachute AIRWOLF registered N465JP was involved in an accident near Casco, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2020 at 23:31

Classification

Accident

Location

Casco, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Private (NA)

Coordinates

42.7353, -82.6294

Aircraft

Powrachute AIRWOLF

Registration

N465JP

Year built

2012

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Casco → Casco

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA387

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to takeoff towards known obstacles which resulted in an impact with a power line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were conducting a local flight in a powered parachute from a grass field. The pilot elected to take off to the north-northwest to take advantage of the light wind from that direction instead of taking off to the northeast with a light crosswind. The pilot was aware of trees and powerlines on the departure route to the northwest but thought he could turn left after takeoff to avoid the obstructions. The powered parachute did not climb as quickly as usual during the left turn so the pilot turned back to the right thinking he could parallel the power lines. The powered parachute did not turn as quickly as expected and continued to climb toward the power lines. The pilot thought he had cleared the power lines, but the parachute impacted the static wire above the power lines, which collapsed the parachute, and the airframe fell to the ground. The airframe sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute that contributed to the accident and said he should have taken off to the northeast and accepted the light crosswind. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.