- Date
- June 13, 2008, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Avon, ME
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5079WHeldeberg Design Blue Heron Marathon
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080613846219A
- Case key
- 68253
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 improper decision to takeoff from an area that was not a designated runway, and his failure to maintain clearance of trees.
Findings · 3
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 pilot of the amateur-built experimental light sport airplane, started the engine in an open grass area in front of his hangar at the airport, and motored the vehicle forward to inflate the parachute. In accordance with his "normal operating practice," he applied full power and began the takeoff roll to the south from the open grass area, which was perpendicular to, and east of, the designated 2,300-foot long by 90-foot wide runway. This area was not designated as a runway. The vehicle lifted off, and when it was approximately 15 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot tried to make a 130-degree right turn to the northwest to continue the climb out along the runway. The pilot was unable to complete the turn or clear the trees on the south side of the runway, and the vehicle impacted the trees at approximately 15 feet agl. The pilot reported that this was the first time he had tried to takeoff from the grass area, while carrying a passenger. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute during the accident. The winds reported at an airport 34 miles to the southeast, at the time of the accident, were from 320 degrees at 3 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the amateur-built experimental light sport aircraft, Blue Heron Marathon powered parachute, started the engine in an open grass area in front of his hangar at the airport, and motored the vehicle forward to inflate the parachute. In accordance with his "normal operating practice," he applied full power and began the takeoff roll to the south from the open grass area, which was perpendicular to, and east of, the designated 2,300-foot long by 90-foot wide runway. This area was not designated as a runway. The vehicle lifted off, and when it was approximately 15 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot tried to make a 130-degree right turn to the northwest to continue the climbout along the runway. The pilot was unable to complete the turn or clear the trees on the south side of the runway, and the vehicle impacted the trees at approximately 15 feet agl. The pilot reported that this was the first time he had tried to takeoff from the grass area, while carrying a passenger. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute during the accident. The winds reported at an airport 34 miles to the southeast, at the time of the accident, were from 320 degrees at 3 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5079W
- Reported as
- Heldeberg Design Blue Heron Marathon
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- H000035
- Airframe hours
- 132
- Engine
- Rotax 582 DCDI, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David E. Avery
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2007
- Departed
- 08ME · Avon, ME
- Destination
- 08ME
- Airport
- 08ME · Lindbergh Airport, runway 31, 2,300 × 90 ft, grass/turf
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
- 57
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2006
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 139 total · 109 in this make and model · 139 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- WVL, 34 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.