Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Goodfield, Illinois 61742
Saturday, August 2, 2008 17:24 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The powered parachute was an existing aircraft without an airworthiness that was certified as an experimental light sport aircraft, The pilot was attempting a takeoff towards the northeast from a grass field in a park, which had trees at its edge. The aircraft was about 20 feet above ground level when the parachute contacted the trees, which was about 644 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. The grass length in the field was approximately 2 1/2 inches. The prevailing winds were calm and the density altitude was approximately 2,800 feet. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, which included bent fuselage tubing. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The parachute was a Performance Designs Paraglider, Inc. Sunriser, part number PG0500P01, serial number PG500-001713., manufactured 08/1999. Weight and balance information for the aircraft shows a useful load of 540 lbs. The following weights were recorded: pilot - 195 lbs, passenger - 215 lbs, fuel - 60 lbs, 1 gallon of coolant - 8 lbs, 4 pints of oil - 4 lbs, 2 helmets - 4 lbs. The only takeoff performance information for the aircraft lists a takeoff roll of 25 feet to 300 feet. There is no aircraft performance data, which is not required by certification regulations, available to the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The insufficient aircraft performance data available to the pilot and the inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Contributing to the accident were the trees and density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1724
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Goodfield
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61742
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403705N
Event Location Longitude 0891635W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
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 --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24303
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 26 2008 6:40PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9338W
NTSB Number CHI08CA237
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Powrachute
Aircraft Model PC 2000
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number A28POW
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 Pilot
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 Goodfield
Operator State IL
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Goodfield
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2008 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --