August 4, 2011, Reedsburg, Wis., Challenger II Experimental

At about 1115 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The two occupants received fatal injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An airplane crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in fatal injuries for its two occupants and substantial damage to the aircraft.
  • Witnesses reported the airplane's left wing dropped and it spun down, impacting the ground near-vertically from approximately 300 feet.
  • The aircraft's ballistic parachute system was activated but was too low to the ground to fully deploy effectively.
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At about 1115 Central time, the airplane impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The two occupants received fatal injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual conditions prevailed.

Several witnesses reported the airplane reaching about 300 feet before the left wing dropped and the airplane spun down, impacting the ground near-vertically. The airplane’s ballistic parachute system was activated but too low to the ground to fully deploy.

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