Airframes Unlimited Powered Parachute accident near Richland, Washington, May 14, 2004
On May 14, 2004 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Airframes Unlimited Powered Parachute, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richland, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the non-certificated pilot to maintain clearance from a pole while maneuvering. Factors contributing to the accident included the loss of directional control and the pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2004 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Richland, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airframes Unlimited Powered Parachute
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial AUNW10
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the first takeoff attempt to the north the powered parachute did not come up completely, but on the second attempt it did. After becoming airborne the aircraft veered hard to the left, causing the pilot to throttle back and try to land. However, in an attempt to abort the landing the aircraft clipped an overhead light pole with its left tire while trying to go around the pole to the north. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest on its left side. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the aircraft which would have precluded normal operations.
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: 59 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 55 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 25, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-99 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Richland WA at 2:40 pm
- Destination: Richland WA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PSC, 10 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.