Alliant DESTINY 2000 N65481

Summary

On 4 May 2019 at about 14:42 local time, a Alliant DESTINY 2000 registered N65481 was involved in an accident near New Era, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 May 2019 at 14:42

Classification

Accident

Location

New Era, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

43.5644, -86.4181

Aircraft

Alliant DESTINY 2000

Registration

N65481

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rothbury → Rothbury

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN19FA134

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering that resulted in collapse of the canopy and an uncontrolled descent into terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The accident flight was the pilot's first flight in 8 months in the powered parachute. Witnesses saw the aircraft turning at low altitude when the canopy collapsed and the aircraft entered a spiraling descent to ground contact. Two of the witnesses stated that the engine sound changed before the canopy collapse. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and wind conditions near the accident site were reported between 1 and 5 mph. Review of the pilot's logbook indicated that his most recent flight review was conducted about 9 years before the accident. Toxicology testing of the pilot revealed the presence of tramadol, which the pilot was taking to treat arthritis. Although both tramadol and underlying arthritis severe enough to warrant the use of opioid analgesics are potentially impairing, it could not be determined whether the pilot's arthritis or effects from his use of tramadol contributed to the accident. Information provided on the aircraft's stability cited the powered parachute … can be flown erratically relative to power so to upset normal flight. [However] this isn't catastrophic if altitude is sufficient. The pilot most likely did not maintain proper power and aircraft control in the turn to keep the canopy inflated resulting in its collapse and the aircraft's subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.