- Date
- April 4, 2021, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Saint Paul, NE · Cornfield near Saint Paul, NE
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGDestiny Powered Parachutes 2000
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Lincoln FSDO
- Case key
- 102874
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 uncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain control of the powered parachute during low altitude flight in gusting wind conditions.
Findings · 4
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
The uncertificated pilot reported that while conducting a low altitude flight with a passenger in his two-seat unregistered powered parachute, a storm quickly moved into the area and a gust of wind “caught the parachute” and “pulled the machine down uncontrollably”. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain. The aircraft’s frame tubing beneath and forward of the seats sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and the engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Destiny Powered Parachutes 2000 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- Unknown
- Built
- 2003
- Engine
- Rotax Aircraft Engines 582, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Departed
- Saint Paul, NE
- Equipment
- None
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- Serious
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 63 total · 63 in this make and model · 11 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 13 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KGRI, 17 nm away
- METAR
- KGRI 050053Z COR 24016G24KT 10SM VCTS BKN090 OVC120 24/07 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 21044/0028 LTG DSNT NW-E TSB22E45 SLP102 T02440067 TS N MOV SE
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 39.3 MB in all.