Six Chuter SR7 XL accident near Fairview, North Carolina, October 14, 2014
On October 14, 2014 at about 11:47 pm local time, a Six Chuter SR7 XL (powered parachute), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Fairview, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's delayed go-around procedure, which resulted in collision with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total flying experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2014 · about 11:47 pm local time
- Place
- Fairview, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Six Chuter SR7 XL · all SR7 XLs on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 98-2052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot/owner reported that he was self-taught in his unregistered powered parachute, as he believed it was an "unregulated machine" and had performed 10 flights prior to the accident flight. The pilot stated that he was flying in the evening, it was getting dark, and he feared he would not return to his home airstrip before complete darkness so he decided to perform a precautionary landing in a field. Due to the decreased visibility, and the field conditions, he felt his approach angle was too steep, and initiated a go-around; however, the powered parachute was unable to out-climb the trees at the departure end of the field. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe, and serious injury to the pilot/owner, who reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Stanfield NC at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Stanfield NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KEQY, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA15CA036.