- Date
- July 4, 2011, 07:25 local (12:25 UTC)
- Place
- Coldspring, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5358ZSkytrails Lsa Predator
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Unknown or undetermined
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Houston FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110704013589A
- Case key
- 80976
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 inadequate consideration of obstructions on his flight path and inability to maintain altitude following an unexplained loss of lift.
Findings · 3
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
During initial climb the powered-parachute experienced an unexplained loss of altitude as it passed over a tree line that bordered the hayfield used for the takeoff. The airframe was substantially damaged as it impacted trees and the roof of an occupied residence and fell to the ground. No one on the ground was injured. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute and the engine produced full power throughout the event.
Factual narrative
During initial climb the powered-parachute experienced an unexplained loss of altitude as it passed over a tree line that bordered the hayfield used for the takeoff. The airframe was substantially damaged as it impacted trees and the roof of an occupied residence and fell to the ground. No one on the ground was injured. According to the sport pilot there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute and the engine produced full power throughout the entire event
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5358Z
- Reported as
- Skytrails Lsa Predator
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- P582E40201
- Airframe hours
- 38
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 28, 2011 · 38 hours before
- Departed
- Coldspring, TX
- Destination
- Coldspring, TX
- Airport
- runway 19, 1,000 × 100 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
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Last flight review
- October 7, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 34 total · 34 in this make and model · 34 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 599 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.