# NTSB CEN20CA231: Destiny XLT, Frankfort, OH, June 16, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 15, 2020, 20:50 local (Jun 16, 2020, 00:50 UTC)
- Place: Frankfort, OH
- Coordinates: 39.354999, -83.253608
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3550&lon=-83.2536&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101446
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA231
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101446/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101446
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA231

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the powered parachute, which resulted in his takeoff with twisted riser lines and impaired aircraft control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering: 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 pilot reported that upon lifting off in the powered parachute, he noticed two riser lines were twisted which impaired his ability to control the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently struck a tree and sustained minor damage while the pilot was attempting to land. The pilot was seriously injured. He noted that completing a better parachute layout during his preflight inspection might have prevented the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DESTINY XLT
- Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built
- Serial number: BR3859
- Year built: 2013
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: Rotax 582 DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 19, 2016
- Departed: Frankfort, OH
- Destination: Frankfort, OH
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2 total, 2 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: RZT, 12 nm away

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101446. 12.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 11.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9939857&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN20CA231_redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9940704&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA_TimPence%20--%2013Jul2020-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9940051&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN20CA231-Rel.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.

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