Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rogersville, Missouri 65742
Sunday, December 25, 2011 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The unlicensed pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection of the powered parachute before taking off from the grass airstrip in a hayfield. During the takeoff climb, the powered parachute entered a hard left turn. The pilot noticed that 2 to 4 of the lines attached to the leading and trailing edges of the parachute were stuck together. He pumped the left pedal, the lines came apart, and the powered parachute started to fly straight ahead. However, the powered parachute was nearing trees, and the pilot was unable to avoid a collision. After hitting a tree, the powered parachute descended uncontrolled and impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the lines were likely stuck together by straw from the hayfield that he was using as a takeoff area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the takeoff area, which resulted in a loss of control due to the binding of the parachute's lines.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/25/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Rogersville
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 65742
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 370820N
Event Location Longitude 0930619W
Event Location Airport Private airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1452 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SGF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1268
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
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) 30.34
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29823
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2012 2:25PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number None
NTSB Number CEN12LA114
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Southern Powered Parachute
Aircraft Model Condor
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John Cochran
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Rogersville
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65742
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Cochran
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City Rogersville
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 65742
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 --
Departure City Rogersville
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Rogersville
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 5 2012 4:09PM
User who most recently changed record saua
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 --