Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 20, 2023 · Powrachute Airwolf 912ULS · N820PP

Erie, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
September 20, 2023
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Erie, CO
Aircraft
Powrachute Airwolf 912ULS (2017)
Tail Number
N820PP
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN23LA413

Security camera video footage showed the pilot fuel the powered parachute and then start the engine. The pilot then attempted to enter the right side of the aircraft and inadvertently sat on the throttle control, bending it into the “full throttle” position. The pilot was never strapped into the seat with the four-point restraint system and the aircraft departed across the airport. The aircraft entered a grass field, impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and the pilot was ejected. The aircraft came to rest upright, with a nose-high attitude, in the grass field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, with substantial damage to the airframe tubing. Postaccident examination confirmed flight and engine control continuity. The bent throttle control was found in the “full throttle” position, intact and connected to the airframe. The two four-point restraint systems for the aircraft were found in a stowed and secured (latched closed) position. The ignition key was found inserted, and it was found at the “on” position. The wing was found folded up and not in a deployed configuration. There were no mechanical issues noted with the airframe or the engine during the onsite examination. Tramadol, a prescription opioid pain medication and a federal Schedule IV-controlled substance, is available in the United States only as a medication taken by mouth. It is unlikely that the pilot received tramadol as part of his postincident care as he was intubated and not able to swallow. The effects of tramadol and potential impairment for the pilot could not be determined based on the medical information available. It is likely that etomidate and fentanyl was given as part of the pilot’s postincident medical care and did not affect his performance at the time of the incident. The autopsy’s description of a small white metal medical device located in the pilot’s ventricle on autopsy is consistent with a leadless pacemaker. The pilot had a cardiac condition that may have increased his risk for an adverse cardiac event such as an arrhythmia. There is no autopsy evidence that such an event occurred. However, such an event does not leave reliable autopsy evidence if it occurs immediately before death. Having a pacemaker would have mitigated the risk to some degree. The pilot inadvertently sat on the throttle control inadvertently while the engine was operating. The throttle was moved to the “full throttle” position by the pilot’s body and the aircraft traveled across the airport on the ground. The pilot was likely warming up the engine; however, he was likely not intending to fly based upon the available evidence.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadvertent manipulation of the throttle, which resulted in the aircraft traveling on the ground and the unsecured pilot being ejected from the aircraft and sustaining fatal injuries.

Full Narrative

On September 20, 2023, about 0910 mountain daylight time, a Powrachute LLC Airwolf 912ULS powered parachute, N820PP, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an incident at the Parkland Airport (7CO0), near Erie, Colorado. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Although the aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot fatally injured, the event was not determined to have been an accident because the pilot likely did not intend to fly the aircraft at the time of the incident. Security camera video footage showed that the aircraft was stationed near the airport’s fuel farm. The video footage showed the pilot fuel the aircraft and then start the engine. The pilot then attempted to enter the right side of the aircraft and inadvertently sat on the throttle control. The throttle control was then bent in the “full throttle” position. The pilot was never strapped into the seat with the four-point restraint system and the aircraft departed across the airport. The aircraft entered a grass field, impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and the pilot was then ejected. The aircraft came to rest upright, with a nose-high attitude, in the grass field. The pilot was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. An individual at the airport contacted first responders after observing the wreckage on the grass field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, with substantial damage to the airframe tubing. Flight control and engine control continuity was confirmed for the aircraft. The bent throttle control was found in the “full throttle” position. The throttle control was found connected to the airframe, intact but bent. There were no signs of fluid leaks on the aircraft or at the accident site. The two four-point restraint systems were found in a stowed and secured (latched closed) position. The ignition key was found inserted, and it was found at the “on” position. The wing was found folded up and not in a deployed configuration. There were no mechanical issues noted with the airframe or the engine during the onsite examination. The pilot’s flight helmet and headset were found inside of his pickup truck, which was parked next to the fuel farm. Additionally, the driver’s side door of the pickup truck was found open. The pilot’s flight log and the aircraft maintenance records were not available for review. A private forensic pathologist performed the pilot’s autopsy for the Weld County Coroner’s Office. According to his autopsy report, the pilot’s cause of death was multiple blunt injuries and his manner of death was accident. The autopsy identified a small white metal medical device within the ventricular chamber; no leads were noted from the device. No other heart abnormalities were noted. NMS Labs performed toxicological testing of postmortem blood of the pilot. Fentanyl was detected at 0.9 ng/mL. Toxicology testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot conducted by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute detected tramadol in blood at 360 ng/mL and in urine at 2119 ng/mL. N-desmethyltramadol was detected in blood and detected in urine at 322 ng/mL. O-desmethyltramadol was detected in blood at 107 ng/mL and in urine at 1516 ng/mL. Etomidate and albuterol were detected in blood and urine. Tramadol is a prescription opioid pain medication and a federal Schedule IV-controlled substance. It is commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol use may cause dizziness, drowsiness, and reduced alertness; such effects generally are more common during initial treatment or when higher-than-therapeutic doses are used. Odesmethyltramadol is the main active metabolite of tramadol, and N-desmethyltramadol is an inactive metabolite of tramadol. Albuterol is a prescription medication commonly used to treat symptoms of reactive airway disease such as bronchospasm. Etomidate is a short-acting, non-barbiturate intravenous anesthetic agent used for the rapid induction of general anesthesia. Fentanyl is a prescription opioid pain medication and a federal Schedule II controlled substance. It is often administered in the emergency setting as an adjunct to other medications to achieve general anesthesia. Powrachute LLC issued Airwolf 912ULS Safety Advisory (POW-SB-09-25-23-5) on September 25, 2023, which discusses the accident aircraft and states in part: The Airwolf powered parachute has demonstrated the potential to accelerate at a dangerously high rate of speed on the ground under certain circumstances. This document discusses safety guidance for pilots with ground operations, the starting procedure, throttle control, and taxi speed control.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time09:10 MDT
Nearest AirportPARKLAND (0nm N)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPowrachute Airwolf 912ULS
Tail NumberN820PP
Aircraft CategoryPpar
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax Aircraft Engines · 912ULS · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 78 · Sprt · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 43 F
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time08:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data