- Date
- January 14, 2011, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alexandria, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4306PPowerchute Airwolf 912ULS
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20110114000299A
- Case key
- 78195
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with trees during an initial climb following an aborted landing.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he performed several touch-and-go landings at the departure airport. He then flew to his house where he attempted a landing on a 600-foot-long flat grass strip. During the landing attempt, the pilot was focused on the touchdown point and, when he looked up he noticed that the powered parachute veered off the right side of the grass strip. He added full engine power and attempted an aborted landing. During the initial climb, the powered parachute struck the tree tops. The pilot stated that the powered parachute can take off and land in about 50 feet and that he had not previously attempted a landing at his residence.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the powered parachute stated that he performed several touch and go landings at the departure airport. He then flew to his house where he attempted a landing on a 600 foot long and flat grass strip. During the landing attempt, the pilot was "focused" on the touchdown point and when he looked up, he noticed that the powered parachute veered off the right side of the grass strip. He added full engine power and attempted an aborted landing. During the initial climb, the powered parachute struck the tree tops. The powered parachute frame was bent. The pilot sustained a serious injury due to a fractured ankle. The pilot stated that the powered parachute can take off and land in about 50 feet and that he had not previously attempted a landing at his residence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4306P
- Reported as
- Powerchute Airwolf 912ULS
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- A146ULS
- Engine
- Rotax, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- Alexandria, IN
- Destination
- PVT · Alexandria, IN
- Airport
- PVT · Private, runway 27, 600 × ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Recreational, Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- AID
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 814 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.