- Date
- September 28, 2012, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Springfield, NE
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N30337Barche Destiny XLT
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-LNC-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120928021269A
- Case key
- 85183
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 decision to continue the takeoff when the chute oscillations were initially detected.
Findings · 2
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 stated the chute on the powered parachute fully inflated during the takeoff from a grass field. Once inflated, the chute began to oscillate, and the aircraft began to bounce. The pilot increased the flare of the chute to get the wheels off the terrain. Once airborne, the landing gear contacted a bean crop located at the end of the grass field. The aircraft continued to gain altitude, and as the pilot decreased the flare, the aircraft began to lose altitude, and, once again, the landing gear scraped the bean crop. The pilot increased the flare and the aircraft began to slowly gain altitude. As the aircraft approached an irrigation boom, the pilot initiated a left turn during which he lost control of the aircraft and it impacted the field. The aircraft sustained broken structural fuselage tubing, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that he suspected the adjustment knot on the steering line slipped, which resulted in the loss of control during the turn. A witness reported that the powered parachute did not fully inflate and the aircraft did not become airborne until it was three-quarters of the way down the airstrip.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated the chute on the powered parachute fully inflated during the takeoff. Once inflated, the chute began to oscillate and the aircraft began to bounce. The pilot increased the flare of the chute to get the wheels off the terrain. Once airborne, the landing gear contacted a bean crop located at the end of the grass field that was being used for takeoff. The aircraft continued to gain altitude and as the pilot decreased the flare, the aircraft began to lose altitude and once again the landing gear scraped the bean crop. The pilot once again increased the flare and the aircraft began to slowly gain altitude. As the aircraft approached an irrigation boom, the pilot initiated a left turn during which he lost control of the aircraft and it impacted the field. The pilot reported that he suspected the adjustment knot on the steering line slipped which resulted in the loss of control during the turn. A witness reported that the powered parachute did not fully inflate and the aircraft did not become airborne until it was ¾ the way down the airstrip.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30337
- Reported as
- Barche Destiny XLT
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 3C0481
- Airframe hours
- 220
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL DCDI, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Barche Martin J
- Registered owner
- Barche Martin J
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 31, 2012
- Departed
- Springfield, NE
- Destination
- Springfield, NE
- Airport
- Pvt Field
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
- 58
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- June 11, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 225 in this make and model · 225 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- OFF, 11 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 858 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.