Six Chuter INC SR7 accident near Hamilton, Montana, July 19, 2023
On July 19, 2023 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1997 Six Chuter INC SR7 (ultralight), registered N942WA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hamilton, Montana. It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff and subsequent impact with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2023 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Six Chuter INC SR7, built 1997 · all SR7s on the register
- Registration
- N942WA · registry record · serial 97-1739-2SR7
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the powered parachute reported that, after raising the wing and during takeoff, the powered parachute experienced an unexpected right turn. He checked to see if any steering lines were tangled but could not confirm that they were. He attempted to increase the right turn to avoid impacting a tree but was unable to clear it, and the powered parachute came to rest in the treeThis is not supported in the 6120 in the docket. You’ll need to add a record of conversation if you want to keep it. . A stabilizer tube and a center of gravity tube sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 152 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 460 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 10, 2023; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 460 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 am from KHRF, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHRF 191335Z AUTO 18004KT 10SM 13/05 A3024
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR23LA281.