Unnamed Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Goldendale, Washington 98620
Saturday, September 1, 2007 8:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental powered parachute aircraft collided with a fence during an aborted takeoff, resulting in serious injuries to the pilot. The student pilot's first takeoff and landing were uneventful. Prior to commencing the second takeoff in calm wind conditions, the pilot "checked and double checked [the] chute and aircraft...everything checked out." The pilot applied engine power and began taking off from the 40-acre field. The chute did not completely open and it appeared to be tucked in on the right side, which resulted in the chute drifting left. The pilot did not maintain directional control of his aircraft, and at 20 feet above the ground he elected to abort the climb as he approached the runway's end. The airplane impacted a nearby fence at full throttle.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the parachute wing to completely deploy, which resulted in the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 835
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Goldendale
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98620
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 455000N
Event Location Longitude 1205300W
Event Location Airport Unnamed airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22404
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, OR

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5180G
NTSB Number LAX07CA260
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ayres
Aircraft Model SR2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2516
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John P. Ayres
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Goldendale
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Goldendale
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Goldendale
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2007 1:25PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 00
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --