- Date
- August 24, 2013, 19:30 local (Aug 25, 2013, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Franklin, IL
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 1 minor
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Defining events
- Approach-VFR pattern base: Midair collisionApproach-VFR pattern base: Midair collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 7, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20130824016592A20130824016412A
- Case key
- 87867
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 failure of both pilots, one of whom was noncertificated, to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ inadequate communication about their intended traffic patterns.
Findings · 8
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.
N5164G · Buckeye Breeze
N94495 · Six Chuter SR7 XL
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.
N5164G · Buckeye Breeze
N94495 · Six Chuter SR7 XL
Analysis
The Buckeye Breeze and Six Chuter powered parachutes collided in midair while conducting pattern operations at a private airpark configured with two grass runways oriented north-south and east-west. The noncertificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was approaching the east runway on a northerly heading, and the pilot of the Six Chuter was on the left downwind leg to the north runway on a southerly heading. Neither pilot was using their handheld radio to broadcast their intended traffic patterns. Further, neither pilot noticed the other parachute until immediately before the midair collision.
Factual narrative
On August 24, 2013, about 1930 central daylight time, a Buckeye Breeze, N5164G, and a Six Chuter SR7 XL, N94495, collided in midair while in the pattern at a private airpark near Franklin, Illinois. Both powered parachutes were registered to and operated by their respective pilots under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flights. The pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was seriously injured and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot of the Six Chuter and his passenger were both seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for either flight. Both local flights originated from the private airpark about 1900. According to the pilot of the Buckeye Breeze, he was in a descent on a northbound heading to land on the easterly grass runway. According to the pilot of the Six Chuter, he was on a left downwind to land on the northerly grass runway. The main body of the Buckeye Breeze collided with the suspension lines of the Six Chuter about 300 feet above the ground. Neither pilot was utilizing their handheld radio to broadcast pattern intentions. Neither pilot observed the other until immediately prior to their collision. After colliding, both powered parachutes descended and impacted into a heavily forested area. The non-certificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was issued a student pilot certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 23, 2007, with an expiration date of June 30, 2009. This pilot had not pursued any further certification.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N5164G
- Reported as
- Buckeye Breeze
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 16344
- Airframe hours
- 150
- Engine
- Rotax 582DCDI, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Birdsell Charles
- Registered owner
- Birdsell Charles
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- n/a · Franklin, IL
- Destination
- n/a · Franklin, IL
- Airport
- n/a · Private
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.
- Registration
- N94495
- Reported as
- Six Chuter SR7 XL
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 99-2200
- Airframe hours
- 350
- Engine
- Rotax 582DCDI, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mansfield Harold R
- Registered owner
- Mansfield Harold R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 6, 2013
- Departed
- n/a · Franklin, IL
- Destination
- n/a · Franklin, IL
- Airport
- n/a · Private
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N5164G
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- Serious
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N94495
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- July 6, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.18 inHg
- Observed at
- KIJX, 14 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.