What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On April 29, 2016, at 1631 eastern standard time (EST) (2031Z), a dream machine 582 powered parachute, N9447T, departed controlled flight while on approach to a grass strip near Fortville, IN. The pilot suffered a serious injury; no ground injuries occurred. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage during the crash. The powered parachute was registered to chris l. blackwell and piloted by privacy data omitted under CFR 14, part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed or required. This local flight originated from the same grass strip at approximately 1625 (EST).
While on approach to the grass strip, the pilot made a slight left turn when the parachute collapsed resulting in a loss of control. The aircraft contacted treetops then fell to the ground.
As the FAA filed it
ON APRIL 29, 2016, AT 1631 EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST) (2031Z), A DREAM MACHINE 582 POWERED PARACHUTE, N9447T, DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT WHILE ON APPROACH TO A GRASS STRIP NEAR FORTVILLE, IN. THE PILOT SUFFERED A SERIOUS INJURY; NO GROUND INJURIES OCCURRED. THE POWERED PARACHUTE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE CRASH. THE POWERED PARACHUTE WAS REGISTERED TO CHRIS L. BLACKWELL AND PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ UNDER CFR 14, PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED OR REQUIRED. THIS LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE SAME GRASS STRIP AT APPROXIMATELY 1625 (EST).
WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE GRASS STRIP, THE PILOT MADE A SLIGHT LEFT TURN WHEN THE PARACHUTE COLLAPSED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREETOPS THEN FELL TO THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.