Infinity COMMANDER accident near Anchor Point, Alaska, August 10, 2009
On August 10, 2009 at about 5:00 am local time, a Infinity COMMANDER (powered parachute), registered N50204, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Anchor Point, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's attempt to exceed the climb capability of the powered parachute during takeoff, and his lack of experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2009 · about 5:00 am local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Anchor Point, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Infinity COMMANDER · all COMMANDERs on the register
- Registration
- N50204 · registry record · serial IPP6-331
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot was taking off in a powered parachute from an off-airport site on a personal local flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, when he collided with trees. According to a state trooper who interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, the pilot stated that the parachute was not in the right position, and the parachute did not fill with air quickly enough. He related he was unable to climb sufficiently to avoid colliding with trees and falling to the ground. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received serious injury.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anchor Point AK
- Destination: Anchor Point AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on October 14, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska State Trooper's Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N50204 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Infinity COMMANDER 7 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Infinity 34 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI 578 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC09CA077.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.