# NTSB CEN09CA025: Holmes William E Predator, N868S, Branson, MO, October 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2008, 07:19 local (12:19 UTC) - Place: Branson, MO - Coordinates: 36.685001, -93.30278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6850&lon=-93.3028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 69316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69316/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA025 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the wing's failure to open all cells for undetermined reasons and the trees near the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Holmes William E PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903JS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was taking off from a grass field in a powered parachute when all cells of the wing did not fully open, causing the aircraft to veer right. All cells of the wing then inflated and the aircraft became airborne. Shortly after takeoff the pilot hit a tree and impacted the ground. The cart frame was bent and the pilot sustained serious injuries. ## Factual narrative The student pilot was taking off from a grass field in a powered parachute when all cells of the wing did not fully open, causing the aircraft to veer right. All cells of the wing then inflated and the aircraft became airborne. Shortly after takeoff the pilot hit a tree and impacted the ground. The cart frame was bent and the pilot sustained serious injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N868S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N868S-2017-09-27), registration cancelled 2017-09-27, S/N E068S, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HOLMES WILLIAM E PREDATOR - Registry model: [Holmes William E PREDATOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/holmes-william-e-predator) (registry code 05903JS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: E068S - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Registration Pending - Registered owner: Registration Pending - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: N/A, Branson, MO - Destination: N/A, Branson, MO - Airport: N/A, Private Field, runway 06, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; student; seat: front; flight hours: 30 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: khro ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081006848299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081006848299A), Oct 6, 2008: Holmes PREDATOR, Branson, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that during the takeoff at an altitude of approximately 30 feet, he experienced a collapse of the right side of the parachute (the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.