- Date
- June 17, 2008, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wharton, TX
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2572FHughes Aero Predator
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Houston
- FAA report
- 20080617845939A
- Case key
- 68407
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 aircraft control.
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 demonstrating flight maneuvers in a two-seat powered parachute, the pilot encountered a stall at approximately 45 feet above ground level. Despite immediate control inputs, the pilot was unable to recover the powered parachute and impacted the ground. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The powered parachute sustained minor damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
While demonstrating flight maneuvers in a two-seat powered parachute, the pilot encountered a stall at approximately 45 feet above ground level. Despite immediate control inputs, the pilot was unable to recover the powered parachute and impacted the ground. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The powered parachute sustained minor damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2572F
- Reported as
- Hughes Aero Predator
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- PC010753W4CR
- Airframe hours
- 12
- Engine
- Rotax 582 UL, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2008 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- ARM · Wharton, TX
- Destination
- Wharton, TX
- Airport
- ARM · Wharton Regional Airport, runway 14, 5,004 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 55
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Sport Pilot, Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2007
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 5,175 total · 373 in this make and model · 38 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- ARM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.