Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Franklin, Illinois 62638
Saturday, August 24, 2013 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Buckeye Breeze and Six Chuter powered parachutes collided in midair while conducting pattern operations at a private airpark configured with two grass runways oriented north-south and east-west. The noncertificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was approaching the east runway on a northerly heading, and the pilot of the Six Chuter was on the left downwind leg to the north runway on a southerly heading. Neither pilot was using their handheld radio to broadcast their intended traffic patterns. Further, neither pilot noticed the other parachute until immediately before the midair collision.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both pilots, one of whom was noncertificated, to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ inadequate communication about their intended traffic patterns.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Franklin
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62638
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 393542N
Event Location Longitude 0900336W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID n/a
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 623
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1935 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID KIJX
Elevation of weather observation facility 623
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KIJX 250155Z AUTO 13005KT 10SM CLR 23/20 A30
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 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32870
NTSB Notification Source Federal Avaition Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2014 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record folm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N5164G N94495
NTSB Number CEN13LA506A CEN13LA506B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BUCKEYE AVIATION INC SIX CHUTER
Aircraft Model BREEZE SR7 XL
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 16344 99-2200
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category -- --
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection -- Conditional
Date of Last Inspection -- Jul 6 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 150 350
ELT Installed No No
ELT Activated Unknown Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name BIRDSELL CHARLES MANSFIELD HAROLD R
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City LIBERTY FENTON
Aircraft Owner State IL MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62347-2619 63026-4980
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name BIRDSELL CHARLES MANSFIELD HAROLD R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City LIBERTY FENTON
Operator State IL MO
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 62347-2619 63026-4980
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None 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 Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code n/a n/a
Departure City Franklin Franklin
Departure State IL IL
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1900 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code n/a n/a
Destination City Franklin Franklin
Destination State IL IL
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2014 10:43PM Feb 23 2014 10:43PM
User who most recently changed record folm folm
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A N/A
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --