Infinity 2000 accident near Hurricane, Utah, May 11, 2012
On May 11, 2012 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Infinity 2000 (powered parachute), registered N541KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hurricane, Utah. It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in a canyon, which resulted in insufficient altitude to recover from an encounter with terrain-induced turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2012 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hurricane, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Infinity 2000
- Registration
- N541KP · registry record · serial IPP2-090
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during a local flight in the powered parachute, he descended into a river canyon and proceeded downstream at an altitude of 50 to 100 feet above the canyon bottom. As he reached an area where the canyon narrowed, the pilot encountered terrain-induced turbulence and gusting wind that resulted in the powered parachute descending to within 10 feet of the canyon floor. When the pilot attempted to regain altitude, the gondola of the powered parachute impacted a rock outcropping. The pilot stated that he likely encountered an air mass that was moving up the canyon and gained velocity due to the narrowing of the canyon, creating the turbulence and gusts. He noted that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining a higher altitude above the ground when flying in such terrain.
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
- Turbulence encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,204 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,061 as pilot in command; 256 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 342 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,085 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L8 Hurricane UT at 2:10 pm
- Destination: 1L8 Hurricane UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from CDC, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12LA205.