Pvt Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springfield, Nebraska 68059
Friday, September 28, 2012 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated the chute on the powered parachute fully inflated during the takeoff from a grass field. Once inflated, the chute began to oscillate, and the aircraft began to bounce. The pilot increased the flare of the chute to get the wheels off the terrain. Once airborne, the landing gear contacted a bean crop located at the end of the grass field. The aircraft continued to gain altitude, and as the pilot decreased the flare, the aircraft began to lose altitude, and, once again, the landing gear scraped the bean crop. The pilot increased the flare and the aircraft began to slowly gain altitude. As the aircraft approached an irrigation boom, the pilot initiated a left turn during which he lost control of the aircraft and it impacted the field. The aircraft sustained broken structural fuselage tubing, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that he suspected the adjustment knot on the steering line slipped, which resulted in the loss of control during the turn. A witness reported that the powered parachute did not fully inflate and the aircraft did not become airborne until it was three-quarters of the way down the airstrip.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s decision to continue the takeoff when the chute oscillations were initially detected.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/28/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Springfield
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68059
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 410451N
Event Location Longitude 0960813W
Event Location Airport Pvt Field
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 76
Weather Observation Facility ID OFF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1048
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
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) 30678
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2012 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record hopj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30337
NTSB Number CEN12CA666
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 BARCHE
Aircraft Model DESTINY XLT
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3C0481
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 Mar 31 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 220
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BARCHE MARTIN J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PAPILLION
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68133-2706
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BARCHE MARTIN J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PAPILLION
Operator State NE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 68133-2706
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 Springfield
Departure State NE
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Springfield
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 16 2012 6:02PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
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 --