Six Chuter Skye Ryder accident near Harrison, Michigan, August 11, 2021
On August 11, 2021, a 1998 Six Chuter Skye Ryder (powered parachute), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Harrison, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2021
- Place
- Harrison, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Six Chuter Skye Ryder, built 1998
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 98-2040-SR5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The uncertificated pilot reported to local police that while he maneuvered the 2-seat powered parachute about 200 ft above ground level, a descent began because “he couldn’t get lift out of it”. The powered parachute subsequently impacted terrain. The vehicle’s fuselage sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not respond to NTSB requests for further information concerning the accident.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: unk
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: n/a Harrison MI at 9:15 pm
- Destination: n/a Harrison MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KHTL, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHTL 110053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM BKN040 24/21 A2989
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2021. 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 | Excerpt of Police Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence with FAA | 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.