Destiny 2000 accident near Eltopia, Washington, May 23, 2015
On May 23, 2015 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2001 Destiny 2000 (powered parachute), registered N3376, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Eltopia, Washington. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to tell the student pilot to abort the takeoff after the powered parachute experienced wing oscillations, which resulted in the student pilot’s loss of aircraft control during initial climb and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's decision to conduct training in a powered parachute without dual flight controls.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2015 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eltopia, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Destiny 2000 NO SERIES, built 2001 · all 2000s on the register
- Registration
- N3376 · no longer on the register · serial 1C0267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were departing in the powered parachute during a fly-in event with the student pilot at the flight controls. The flight instructor reported that the powered parachute experienced left-to-right wing oscillations during the takeoff roll and initial climb and that, about 15 ft above ground level, it rotated sharply downward and to the right and then impacted terrain; this was corroborated by video footage provided by an observer on the ground, which also showed that the oscillations worsened during the initial climb. The flight instructor reported that he was monitoring all of the parachute lines during the takeoff roll and initial climb and that he observed no abnormalities that would have adversely affected the parachute's steering mechanism. According to Federal Aviation Administration guidance on powered parachute operations, the takeoff should be aborted if the parachute experiences severe wing oscillations. The guidance also states that "dual controls are required in the aircraft for training." However, the powered parachute was not equipped with dual flight controls. If the powered parachute had been equipped with dual flight controls, it is possible that the flight instructor would have taken control of the flight and aborted the takeoff. Regardless, the flight instructor should have told the student to abort the takeoff when he first noticed the wing oscillations.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Instructor/check pilot
Dual student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: powered-lift; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 458 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 306 as pilot in command; 108 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 31, 2014
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Eltopia WA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: Eltopia WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KPSC, 11 miles away
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.