Wharton Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wharton, Texas 77467
Tuesady, June 17, 2008 10:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/17/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Wharton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77467
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 291525N
Event Location Longitude 0960925W
Event Location Airport Wharton Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ARM
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 944 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ARM
Elevation of weather observation facility 100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23923
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date Jun 27 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2008 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Houston

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2572F
NTSB Number DFW08CA179
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hughes Aero
Aircraft Model Predator
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number PC010753W4CR
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 12
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Mike Singletary
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1821
Aircraft Owner City DAYTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77535
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ARM
Departure City WHARTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Wharton
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 14 2008 3:08PM
User who most recently changed record GAMW
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 5004
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --