Powrachute LLC Airwolf accident near New London, Ohio, September 15, 2009
On September 15, 2009 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Powrachute LLC Airwolf (powered parachute), registered N6126B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New London, Ohio (Private airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2009 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- New London, Ohio · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Powrachute LLC Airwolf
- Registration
- N6126B · registry record · serial A089ULS
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructional flight in the powered parachute was departing when the student pilot suddenly turned the aircraft to the left while climbing. The flight instructor then turned the aircraft to the right and added full power, but the aircraft contacted a utility line that was in several pine trees along the planned takeoff path. The aircraft then descended and its parachute contacted treetops before falling to the ground and damaging the frame adjacent to the propeller, resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor was uninjured and the student pilot sustained serious injuries.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,876 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,936 as pilot in command; 143 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 3 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Real Aviators LLC
The flight
- Departed from: New London OH at 9:00 pm
- Destination: New London OH
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.