# NTSB CEN12LA114: Southern Powered Parachute Condor, Rogersville, MO, December 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 2011, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Rogersville, MO - Coordinates: 37.138889, -93.105278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1389&lon=-93.1053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82573 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82573/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82573 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the takeoff area, which resulted in a loss of control due to the binding of the parachute's lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Wing structure: flight surfaces (wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The unlicensed pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the powered parachute before taking off from the grass airstrip in a hayfield. During the takeoff climb, the powered parachute entered a hard left turn. The pilot noticed that 2 to 4 of the lines attached to the leading and trailing edges of the parachute were stuck together. He pumped the left pedal, the lines came apart, and the powered parachute started to fly straight ahead. However, the powered parachute was nearing trees, and the pilot was unable to avoid a collision. After hitting a tree, the powered parachute descended uncontrolled and impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the lines were likely stuck together by straw from the hayfield that he was using as a takeoff area. ## Factual narrative On December 25, 2011, about 1500 central standard time, a Southern Powered Parachute Condor, a two-seat powered parachute, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the tops of trees and then impacted the terrain during takeoff from a private airstrip near Rogersville, Missouri. The unlicensed pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot owned and operated the powered parachute, but it was unregistered and did not have an “N” number. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The powered parachute was departing on a local flight. The pilot preflighted the powered parachute and completed the necessary engine run prior to takeoff from the grass airstrip. The pilot reported that during the takeoff climb, 2 – 4 of the lines that were attached to the leading and aft edges of the parachute got stuck together, possibly by some straw, which caused the powered parachute to turn hard to the left. He pumped the left rudder pedal tube to try to get the lines to come apart. The lines came apart and the powered parachute started to fly straight ahead. However, the pilot was unable to get the powered parachute to clear the trees that were in his flight path. The powered parachute hit about three feet from the top of the trees, descended uncontrolled, and impacted the ground. The pilot was not a certificated pilot. He reported that he had been flying for about 11 years and had flown about 180 hours total with about 35 hours in the accident powered parachute. The pilot purchased the powered parachute 2 – 3 years prior to the accident, and did not register it as a light-sport aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Southern Powered Parachute Condor - Category: Powered parachute - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Cochran - Registered owner: John Cochran - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: Rogersville, MO - Destination: Rogersville, MO - Airport: Private airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: serious; seat: front; flight hours: 180 total, 35 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: SGF ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82573. 833 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Missouri State Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Missouri%20State%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of paraglider at the accident site. (item 4, .PDF, 500 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365652&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20paraglider%20at%20the%20accident%20site.-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.