# NTSB CEN12LA404: Destiny 2000, Shelbyville, IN, June 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 2012, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Shelbyville, IN - Coordinates: 39.509445, -85.89389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5094&lon=-85.8939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 15, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-IND-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84126 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84126/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84126 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA404 ## Probable cause The operation of the aircraft by a non-certificated pilot and his failure to plan for the high density altitude and to maintain control of the aircraft. ## 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/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. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: 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 unregistered two-person powered parachute veered to the left during takeoff and contacted trees. The non-certificated pilot reported that the aircraft was not producing enough lift due to the hot, humid weather. The density altitude would have been about 1,300 feet higher than the field elevation. It is likely that the pilot did not take the density altitude into account when preparing for the takeoff. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2012, at 0830 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Destiny 2000 powered parachute, collided with trees during takeoff from private property in Shelbyville, Indiana. The pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft which was owned and operated by the non-certificated pilot was substantially damaged. The personal flight was not being conducted in accordance with any of the federal regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot was not available for a telephone interview due to his medical condition. A friend of the pilot reported that the pilot stated that the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind during the takeoff. This resulted in the aircraft banking to the left and contacting trees. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector that the day of the accident was hot and humid. He stated the aircraft was not producing enough lift because of the weather conditions. The aircraft veered to the left where it contacted a 40-foot tall tree, followed by another tree prior to impacting the terrain. The pilot stated that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the aircraft. The weather conditions recorded at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport (KGEZ), located 7 miles northeast of the accident site were: calm wind, temperature 24 degrees Celsius, and dewpoint 14 degrees Celsius. The field elevation at the takeoff location is unknown; however, given the local weather conditions, the density altitude would have been approximately 1,300 feet higher than the field elevation. The pilot had been flying single-place powered parachutes for about 13 years. He purchased the Destiny 2000, a 2-place powered parachute, about a year prior to the accident. The pilot reported that he was not aware that the aircraft needed to be registered and that he needed a pilot certificate to fly it. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Destiny 2000 - Category: Weight-shift - Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Operator: Armel G. Taylor - Registered owner: Armel G. Taylor - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: Shelbyville, IN - Destination: Shelbyville, IN - Airport: Pvt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: GEZ, 7 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84126. 177 KB in all. - Records of Conversations (item 1, .PDF, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversations-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.