Ebeneezer Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cumming, Georgia 30041
Thursday, October 4, 2012 18:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The non-certificated pilot of the powered parachute reported that he aborted his first takeoff because the riser lines to the canopy became entangled. During the subsequent takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a "gust of wind" from the left, and the craft was pushed into trees on the right of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and canopy. After the accident, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the powered parachute.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The operation of the powered parachute by a non-certificated pilot, and his failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb, which resulted in a collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Cumming
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30041
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341419N
Event Location Longitude 0840315W
Event Location Airport Ebeneezer Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4GA9
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1230
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID GVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1276
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
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) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KGVL 042253Z AUTO 30003KT 10SM CLR 24/12 A3023
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30968
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 4 2013 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N580PG
NTSB Number ERA13CA009
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 POWRACHUTE
Aircraft Model PEGASUS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number A058 PEG
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 4 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 165
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert Branch
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cumming
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30041
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert Branch
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cumming
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30041
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 4GA9
Departure City Cumming
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 4GA9
Destination City Cumming
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 4 2013 12:49PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 1400
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --