# NTSB CEN15CA065: Hughes Aero Predator, N912AM, Branson, MO, October 16, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 16, 2014, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Branson, MO - Coordinates: 36.63502, -93.224878 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6350&lon=-93.2249&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Other: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control when executing a landing with a tailwind, resulting in impact with a retaining wall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wall/barricade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05901TG), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the sport pilot, following an hour long personal flight in the experimental light sport powered parachute, he made an off airfield approach to an open field next to his home. He reported that he established a normal approach to the field and lost control of the powered parachute during the landing. He reported that the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that stood between the field and his home. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the powered parachute prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The FAA aviation safety inspector assigned to the accident reported that the pilot had a habit of landing in the open field next to his home. During the accident approach, the pilot made the approach with a tail wind and then attempted to abort the landing. However, the pilot was unable to establish a climb and the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that separated the open field and the pilot's home. ## Factual narrative According to the sport pilot, following an hour long personal flight in the experimental light sport powered parachute, he made an off airfield approach to an open field next to his home. He reported that he established a normal approach to the field and lost control of the powered parachute during the landing. He reported that the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that stood between the field and his home. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the powered parachute prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The FAA aviation safety inspector assigned to the accident reported that the pilot had a habit of landing in the open field next to his home. During the accident approach, the pilot made the approach with a tail wind and then attempted to abort the landing. However, the pilot was unable to establish a climb and the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that separated the open field and the pilot's home. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912AM), registered now, S/N PC03079XW3 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES AERO CORP PREDATOR (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hughes Aero PREDATOR](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-aero-predator) (registry code 05902DL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: PC03079XW3 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: ROTAX 912 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Branson, MO - Destination: Branson, MO - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 300 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KBBG, 14 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20141016020829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141016020829A), Oct 16, 2014: Hughes Aero Corp PREDATOR, Branson, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot was attempting to land in a vacant lot adjacent to his rural home near Branson, MO. The wind had picked up from the south giving him a right… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90456. 323 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441991&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-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.