- Date
- July 10, 2012, 20:25 local (Jul 11, 2012, 01:25 UTC)
- Place
- Central City, NE
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2552GMchargue Buckeye Dream
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Lincoln-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120710014049A
- Case key
- 84270
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 failure to maintain clearance with the powerlines during the initial takeoff climb.
Findings · 1
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
While taking off from a grass airstrip, the passenger felt the powered parachute “tug” to the right and the heading changed 90 degrees. The heading then changed back to the left, and the aircraft was traveling toward powerlines. The pilot reduced the engine power, and the aircraft traveled under the powerlines; however, the parachute contacted the wires. The aircraft swung backwards, and the parachute separated from the wires at which time the aircraft impacted the terrain.
Factual narrative
On July 10, 2012, at 2025 central daylight time, a McHargue Buckeye Dream powered parachute, N2552G, collided with powerlines on takeoff from a private airstrip in Central City, Nebraska. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The powered parachute was substantially damaged. The local flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he does not remember the events surrounding the accident. The airstrip used for takeoff was on the pilot’s property. He stated that the powerlines run north/south and the airstrip runs east/west. The pilot stated that during takeoffs, he normally turns prior to reaching the powerlines. The passenger stated he was in the rear seat and the pilot was in the front seat. He stated he was looking over his shoulder at the chute during the takeoff when he felt a “tug” to the right. The nose of the aircraft pulled 90 degrees to the right, and then straightened back out to the east. He then heard the engine power decrease and the aircraft descended. The aircraft went under the powerlines with the parachute contacting the wires. The aircraft swung backwards and the parachute separated from the powerlines at which time the aircraft impacted the terrain. The passenger stated there was little to no wind at the time of the takeoff. The pilot reported there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2552G
- Reported as
- Mchargue Buckeye Dream
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 001
- Engine
- Rotax 503 DCDI, 52 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mchargue Leslie L
- Registered owner
- Mchargue Leslie L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- Central City, NE
- Destination
- Central City, NE
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
- 76
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- GRI, 21 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 770 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.