Infinity Powered Parachute accident near Lewistown, Montana, June 29, 2002
On June 29, 2002 at about 3:15 am local time, a Infinity Powered Parachute (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewistown, Montana. It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate preflight planning and inadvertent flight into adverse weather conditions. High wind conditions was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2002 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Lewistown, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Infinity Powered Parachute
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certified pilot reported that he was attempting an off-airport landing in an effort to avoid approaching thunderstorms and associated high wind conditions. He stated that on his fourth landing attempt, the powered parachute encountered a strong crosswind that "... blew us into the ground." The pilot estimated the winds at the time of the accident to be 70-80 miles per hour.
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
Pilot
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 70 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lewistown MT at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; ovct at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:01 am from KLWT, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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
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.