HANDY JAMES L BUCKEYE DREAM MACH
West Caln, PA — September 1, 2012
Event Information
| Date | September 1, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA548 |
| Event ID | 20120906X93300 |
| Location | West Caln, PA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.02000, -75.94806 |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | HANDY JAMES L |
| Model | BUCKEYE DREAM MACH |
| Category | PPAR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind during the initial climb, which resulted in collision with a tree and terrain.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot of the powered parachute, he took off in a westerly direction with a right crosswind, and during the initial climb, the parachute veered left. The pilot corrected with a right turn-bar input, but the cart struck a tree and then impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. According to a witness, the powered parachute was flying “normal” until a gust of wind pushed it into the tree. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector on scene, there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at an airport 4 miles to the southeast of the accident location was from 360 degrees at 5 knots.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.