Sunday, December 20, 2020

Destiny 2000, N65733: Incident occurred December 20, 2020 in Rio Linda, Sacramento County, California

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Sacramento, California

Aircraft lost power on takeoff and struck power lines. 


Date: 20-DEC-20
Time: 19:00:00Z
Regis#: N65733
Aircraft Make: EXPERIMENTAL
Aircraft Model: DESTINY POWERED PARACHUTE
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: TAKEOFF (TOF)
Operation: 91
City: RIO LINDA
State: CALIFORNIA
 

RIO LINDA, California — A man dressed as Santa Claus while on a powered parachute was rescued after getting stuck on some power lines in Sacramento County on Sunday morning.

The rescue was near 7th Avenue in Rio Linda, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The California Highway Patrol’s North Sacramento Office also responded to the rescue, saying in a Facebook post that “Turns out Santa was trying to get some last-minute fun in before the holiday and got into a hot wire situation.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident happened around 11 a.m. and the Santa had taken off near a school in Rio Linda.

"A powered parachute lost power on takeoff near a school in Rio Linda, California, and then hit and became suspended in power lines around 11:00 a.m. local time today," said a spokesperson with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Power was shut off to about 200 customers in the Rio Linda area during the rescue, according to officials with Sac Metro Fire.

“Immediately after power was shut off, we were able to move firefighters up into the power line and then lower the pilot -- Santa Claus -- down to safety,” said Chris Vestal with Sac Metro Fire.

According to Vestal, the man was trying to do something nice for kids in the community.

“He was trying to deliver candy canes to kids that were playing through in the community. We commend him for that. It’s unfortunate, but we all need to remember that there’s still good out in the world there are people doing good things and look at the brightness of the holiday season," Vestal said.

Thankfully, the Santa wasn’t hurt in the incident.




SACRAMENTO, California — A Santa pilot was rescued in Rio Linda on Sunday. Sacramento Metro Fire responded to an incident of a powered parachute getting stuck in some power lines on a power pole near 7th Ave. What they didn't expect to see was Santa Claus and his sleigh getting stuck in some power lines. Santa was flying a "hyper light" aircraft, according to Sacramento Metro Fire.

CHP North Sacramento also responded to the incident and posted about it on Facebook saying, "We typically don’t respond to a 'Rudolph lane-changed me' call, but when you get multiple calls... it’s best to go check it out."

SMUD was called to turn off the power before before Metro Fire helped get Santa down. About 200 homes were without power for a little bit.

"Turns out Santa was trying to get some last minute fun in before the holiday and got into a hot wire situation," CHP North Sacramento said in their Facebook post.

"We are happy to report Santa is uninjured and will be ready for Christmas next week, but perhaps with a new sleigh!" Metro Fire said in a tweet.

So no need to worry about Christmas presents not getting there on time because officials say Santa was not hurt in this incident. Santa was flying solo in his sleigh today, meaning Rudolph and all of the other reindeer are also safe, although the elves might have some work to do on the sleigh before Santa flies it out on Christmas Eve.

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