# NTSB ERA12CA548: Handy James L Buckeye Dream Mach, N4258M, West Caln, PA, September 1, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 1, 2012, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: West Caln, PA
- Coordinates: 40.02, -75.948059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0200&lon=-75.9481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84951
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA548
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84951/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84951
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA548

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind during the initial climb, which resulted in collision with a tree and terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=05904SU), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904SU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05904SU), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05904SU), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904SU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot of the powered parachute, he took off in a westerly direction with a right crosswind, and during the initial climb, the parachute veered left. The pilot tried to correct the direction of flight, but the cart struck a tree and then impacted the ground, seriously injuring the pilot and substantially damaging the metal tube airframe. According to a witness, the powered parachute was flying “normal” until a gust of wind pushed it into the tree. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at an airport 4 miles to the southeast of the accident location was from 360 degrees at 5 knots.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of the powered parachute, he took off in a westerly direction with a right crosswind, and during the initial climb, the parachute veered left. The pilot corrected with a right turn-bar input, but the cart struck a tree and then impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. According to a witness, the powered parachute was flying “normal” until a gust of wind pushed it into the tree. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector on scene, there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at an airport 4 miles to the southeast of the accident location was from 360 degrees at 5 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4258M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4258M-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 4399, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HANDY JAMES L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH
- Registry model: [Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH](https://openairdocs.org/model/handy-james-l-buckeye-dream-mach) (registry code 05904SU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Powered parachute
- Serial number: 4399
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 8, 2012
- Departed: West Caln, PA
- Destination: West Caln, PA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: MQS, 4 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 20120901019019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120901019019A), Sep 1, 2012: Handy James L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH, Gap, PA, Substantial damage. Powered parachute was taking off from a farm field. When reaching an altitude of approximately 45 feet. There was a cross wind from the right. The aircraft…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84951. 4.0 MB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- West Caln Township Police Department Report (item 2, .PDF, 746 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=West%20Caln%20Township%20Police%20Department%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record: FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- MQS Weather Observations (item 5, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=MQS%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: View of Damaged Airframe (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Damaged%20Airframe%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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