Pilot Was Fatally Injured When Aircraft Impacted Terrain

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident which occurred in the desert near Moore, UT. The pilot of the Buckeye Industries Breeze powered parachute, N582UT, was fatally injured in the accident.

According to the report, witnesses said the pilot had flown to a local landmark known as the Sid and Charley Pinnacles in a group with 4 other powered parachute aircraft. Following an uneventful inbound flight, the group touched down near the rock outcropping and spent some time taking photographs of the panoramic views. After an hour, the group prepared their powered parachutes for the return flight home as the winds were increasing in magnitude.

The first two powered parachutes departed normally to the east and circled the departure area at approximately 200 ft above ground level (agl) and 150 ft agl, respectively, while they waited for the remainder of the group to take off. According to one of two remaining witnesses on the ground, the accident pilot departed after an approximate ground roll of about 200 ft, also in an eastern direction. His powered parachute entered a steep left bank immediately after the aircraft lifted off the ground.

The accident pilot reported that he was experiencing a problem over the group's selected common radio frequency and was advised to land by one of the pilots on the ground. After it made one and a half revolutions around the departure area, the powered parachute entered a steady descent from about 50 ft agl and then impacted the rising face of a 4 foot deep ravine before it came to rest on its right side.

According to a powered parachute instructor, this particular aircraft was equipped with a steering line that connected the right and left pedals to the trailing edges of the right and left wings (parachute). During flight, the pilot applies pedal in the direction of their desired turn, which increases the drag on the trailing edge of the wing and turns the aircraft. Preliminary photographs of the aircraft after the accident furnished by law enforcement showed that the left steering line was wrapped around the bracket of a beacon behind the pilot's seat.

 (Source: NTSB)

FMI: Report