Six-Chuter AMERICAN SPIRIT accident near Brownsville, Oregon, August 29, 2009
On August 29, 2009 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Six-Chuter AMERICAN SPIRIT (powered parachute), registered N9184F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Brownsville, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2009 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Six-Chuter AMERICAN SPIRIT
- Registration
- N9184F · no longer on the register · serial 2770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot was participating in a sponsored powered parachute fly-in, and he was attempting to land at the designated site. The pilot was flying in an easterly direction at a low altitude and did not initially observe power lines that were about 50 feet above ground level. Just before impacting one of the lines, the pilot saw it and increased engine power; however, his actions were too late. The pilot's powered parachute impacted the line and thereafter fell to the ground. Other pilots who had been flying in the area reported that it was hard to see the wires while looking toward the east, due to the bright sun.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brownsville OR at 2:05 pm
- Destination: Brownsville OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N9184F 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.