Rod Pridmore
MAY 4, 1951 ~ OCTOBER 5, 2019 (AGE 68)
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N582UT
Accident Number: WPR20LA001
Date & Time: 10/05/2019, 1140 MDT
Registration: N582UT
Aircraft: Buckeye BREEZE
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On October 5, 2019, about 1140 mountain daylight time, a Buckeye Industries Breeze powered parachute, N582UT, was substantially damaged when it crashed in desert terrain near Moore, Utah. The private pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was registered to the pilot who was operating it as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Huntington, Utah.
According to witnesses, 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.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Buckeye
Registration: N582UT
Model/Series: BREEZE No Series
Aircraft Category: Powered Parachute
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation: , 5957 ft msl
Observation Time: 1153 MDT
Distance from Accident Site: 39 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / -15°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots / , 170°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.28 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Emery, UT
Destination: Huntington, UT (69V)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.953889, -110.996389
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
Rodney “Rod” Michael Pridmore, 68, of Fairfield, Idaho, died October 5, 2019 of injuries sustained in an accident, while flying his powered parachute.
Rod was born May 4, 1951 in Gooding, Idaho to Harold and Margaret (Rutherford) Pridmore of Richfield, Idaho. He grew up on a dairy farm with his three sisters, as his dad’s right-hand-man and his sisters’ fun-loving antagonist, mischievous tease, and idea man. It was in those early years that he began a lifetime as a true grit cowboy, a man with more vision, determination, and common sense than most.
He married his high school sweetheart and lifelong love, Sally Patterson, on August 28, 1969 and they moved to Boise to start their adventures together. They were blessed with four daughters and eventually settled in Camas County, where they spent many wonderful years together enjoying the beauty and blessings of living in God’s country and the journey of 50 years of marriage.
Living a simple life as a cowboy in the Idaho Mountains allowed Rod to focus on loving and leading his family in a life centered in the truth of Christ, leaving a legacy of Christian faith for generations to come.
Rod was a man of many talents and titles, at last count around 40 different jobs or businesses owned. He has been a farmer, rancher, dairyman, welder, pipe-fitter, garbage man, accountant, elected official (tax collector), government disaster relief employee, and a working cowboy to mention a few. His most recent venture was to purchase a herd of Scottish Highland cattle. For him, going back to his ranching roots and owning a piece of Camas Prairie was a dream come true. He was always a good and faithful provider, a trusted friend, and loving Papa to his grandkids. He also enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: a good chuckle, a hot cup of coffee with friends or family, and an afternoon nap.
His love for flying began when he became a pilot in 1979. When age and health made renewing his pilot’s license difficult, he took up powered parachutes. Flying low and slow over the Camas Prairie gave him great pleasure. He shared several videos of his flights and poetry on his website www.commonsensecowboy.com.
Rod was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Andy Frostenson, his parents, Harold and Margaret Pridmore, and his grandparents, C.M. and Priscilla Pridmore and Fred and Elnora Rutherford.
He will be forever missed by: his wife – Sally; his daughters and their families – Bobi and Bria Frostenson; Darci, Todd, Hunter, Riley, and Graci Gill; Jessi, Steve, Parker, Tristan, and Dylan Webb; and Angie, Chris, Elijah, Gabe, Eden, Anna, Isaac, Mercy, Ava, and Daniel Pickering; and his sisters – Sheri and Rick Giesler, Kelly and Butch Edwards, and Lori and Toby Dayley.
Services will be held Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Camas County High School Gymnasium in Fairfield, Idaho. Family dinner with close friends to follow. A private family interment will take place at the Manard Cemetery near Fairfield.
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.
Rod was an author and poet and some of his writings, stories and videos can be seen on their web site - The Common Sense Cowboy.
http://www.commonsensecowboy.com/blog/
Shortly before noon on Saturday, October 5, 2019, ECSO Dispatch Center received a call of a fatal powered parachute accident at the Sid and Charley pinnacles in the San Rafael Swell. The victim has been identified as 68-year-old Rodney Pridmore from Idaho.
A group of five men had flown from the Huntington Airport that morning and had landed at Sid and Charley. When the group was ready to leave, Pridmore was one of the first in the air. He radioed to his party that he was having problems with his aircraft and they advised him to try to land. The landing was unsuccessful with the aircraft impacting a shallow wash. A member of the party who is an emergency room physician stated that Pridmore died on impact.
Initial investigation by those on scene suggests a problem with the rope and pulley steering system. The Federal Aviation Administration was contacted and will be investigating.
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