Six Chuter West LLC LEGEND XL accident near Mabton, Washington, October 26, 2017
On October 26, 2017 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2016 Six Chuter West LLC LEGEND XL (powered parachute), registered N781SC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Mabton, 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 pilot’s failure to see and avoid transmission wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2017 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mabton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Six Chuter West LLC LEGEND XL NO SERIES, built 2016 · all LEGEND XLs on the register
- Registration
- N781SC · registry record · serial 3172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the powered parachute reported that, during a biennial flight review, he descended to about 30 ft above the ground to fly an arc around a field. While over the field, the powered parachute dropped another 10 to 15 ft, and he added power to compensate before initiating a left turn. He added that, during the turn, he saw transmission wires that neither he nor the flight instructor previously noticed. He applied full power and attempted a turn to avoid the wires. Subsequently, the powered parachute struck the transmission wires and impacted terrain. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: sport pilot; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 932 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 699 as pilot in command; 87 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 3, 2017
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 93 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 2016
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912E (piston); 93 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S40 Prosser WA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: S40 Prosser WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KRLD, 27 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.