# NTSB CEN12CA631: Powrachute Pegasus, N554E, Luling, TX, August 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2012, 19:45 local (Aug 28, 2012, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Luling, TX - Coordinates: 29.728055, -97.659164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7281&lon=-97.6592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO San Antonio - NTSB case key (mKey): 85025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA631 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA631 ## Probable cause Collision with a powerline resulting from the pilot's not maintaining adequate clearance while on a day VFR approach to land. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Powrachute PEGASUS, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05901JZ), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was making a day VFR approach to land his powered parachute on a friend’s private property. At the very last moment, he saw a power line directly in front of his final approach path. The pilot tried to land short of the power line because he did not have enough altitude to go over the lines. When the airframe (cart) was only a few feet above the ground, the parachute hit the power line. The parachute caught on the power line and the cart swung forward and to the right and hit the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right underside of the frame. Both the pilot and his passenger exited the cart uninjured. The pilot reported that he had about 50 total flight hours in powered parachute aircraft. ## Factual narrative The sport pilot was making a day VFR approach to land his powered parachute on a friend’s private property. At the very last moment, he saw a power line directly in front of his final approach path. The pilot tried to land short of the power line because he did not have enough altitude to go over the lines. When the airframe (cart) was only a few feet above the ground, the parachute hit the power line. The parachute caught on the power line and the cart swung forward and to the right and hit the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right underside of the frame. Both the pilot and his passenger exited the cart uninjured. The pilot reported that he had about 50 total flight hours in powered parachute aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N554E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N554E), registered now, S/N A 053 PEG, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: POWRACHUTE PEGASUS - Registry model: [Powrachute PEGASUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-pegasus) (registry code 05901JZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: A 053 PEG - Airframe hours: 208 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Galle Barton C - Registered owner: Galle Barton C - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: Luling, TX - Destination: Luling, TX - Airport: T91, Carter Memorial Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 13, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total, 50 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: RND, 34 nm away ## 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 20120827019649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120827019649A), Aug 27, 2012: Powrachute PEGASUS, Luling, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying low over friends field. Pilot did not see powerline crossing in front of powered glider flight path. Pilot managed to fly powered glider under… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85025. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 Parachute Tangled in Power Lines (item 3, .PDF, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Parachute%20Tangled%20in%20Power%20Lines-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Powered Parachute Airframe after Accident (item 4, .PDF, 524 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Powered%20Parachute%20Airframe%20after%20Accident-Master.PDF - Exemplar Powered Parachute Information (item 5, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Exemplar%20Powered%20Parachute%20Information-Master.PDF 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.