# NTSB WPR11LA133: Buckeye Breeze LX, N75752, Bullfrog, UT, February 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2011, 17:53 local (Feb 13, 2011, 00:53 UTC) - Place: Bullfrog, UT - Coordinates: 37.965, -110.599723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9650&lon=-110.5997&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 23, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78333/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78333 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering to land at an off-airport site. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye BREEZE LX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0590183), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye BREEZE LX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0590183), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Buckeye BREEZE LX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0590183), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buckeye BREEZE LX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0590183), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses at a campsite where the pilot was preparing to land reported that he overflew the site three times to check the wind conditions before making a fourth pass at a low altitude. Review of a video taken by a witness revealed that the powered parachute was about 3 to 4 feet above the ground when it reached the end of the landing area that was on the edge of a canyon. The engine sound increased and the aircraft pitched up abruptly, followed by a rapid descent and 180-degree turn. The aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to clear the terrain and impacted below the canyon ledge on steep terrain. The video revealed clear skies with no indication of wind at the landing area. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2011, at 1753 mountain standard time, a Buckeye Breeze LX powered parachute, N75752, impacted terrain while on approach to landing at a wilderness campsite, 30 miles north of the Bullfrog Basin Airport, Bullfrog, Utah. The student pilot operated the experimental category aircraft under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot was fatally injured, and the powered parachute was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses reported that the pilot flew over their campsite three times to monitor the wind conditions. After the third pass, the pilot appeared to turn to land. Witnesses heard the engine power increase, however, the parachute started to descend steeply until they heard an impact. Review of amateur video filmed by a witness at the landing area revealed that the parachute flew low over the landing area at an altitude of 3-4 feet. As the parachute reached the end of the landing area and the canyon ledge, the engine sound increased in pitch, and the parachute pitched up abruptly, followed by a rapid descent and 180-degree turn before it dropped out of the video frame, descending beneath the canyon ledge. The wreckage was located below the canyon ledge on steeply sloped terrain. At 1655, the nearest weather reporting station located about 19 miles north of the campsite reported calm wind; clear skies; 60-statute miles of visibility; temperature 9 degrees Celsius (C); and dew point -6 degrees C. At the accident site, the home video revealed clear skies and no evidence of any wind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75752](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75752-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 16343, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUCKEYE BREEZE LX - Registry model: [Buckeye BREEZE LX](https://openairdocs.org/model/buckeye-breeze-lx) (registry code 0590183) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 16343 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bradley D. Ford - Registered owner: Bradley D. Ford - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KU07, Bullfrog, UT - Destination: KU07, Bullfrog, UT - Airport: KU07, Bullfrog Basin ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: fatal; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 25 total, 23 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 21 °F - Observed at: K4HV, 19 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 20110212001529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110212001529A), Feb 12, 2011: Buckeye BREEZE LX, Bullfrog, UT, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. A video of the accident shows that the pilot made a low level pass out over a ridge. Aircraft power was increased and the aircraft gained some altitude as it… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78333. 3.9 MB in all. - Report from Sheriff's Department - Witness Statements Included (item 1, .PDF, 248 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Sheriff%27s%20Department%20-%20Witness%20Statements%20Included-Redacted.PDF - Video: Witness Video from Landing Area (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%3A%20Witness%20Video%20from%20Landing%20Area-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357533&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1. On scene view of wreckage (item 4, .PDF, 837 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20On%20scene%20view%20of%20wreckage-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Close up view of damaged trike (item 5, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358843&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Close%20up%20view%20of%20damaged%20trike-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.