Bullfrog Basin Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bullfrog, Utah 84716
Saturday, February 12, 2011 17:53 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering to land at an off-airport site.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1753
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Bullfrog
Event State UTAH
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 84716
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375754N
Event Location Longitude 1103559W
Event Location Airport Bullfrog Basin
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KU07
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 30
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4167
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID K4HV
Elevation of weather observation facility 4311
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29484
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2011 5:40PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75752
NTSB Number WPR11LA133
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BUCKEYE
Aircraft Model BREEZE LX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 16343
Certified Max Gross Weight 500
Aircraft Category --
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bradley D. Ford
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Spanish Fork
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84680
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Bradley D. Ford
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Spanish Fork
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 84680
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code KU07
Departure City Bullfrog
Departure State UT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KU07
Destination City Bullfrog
Destination State UT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2011 5:40PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --