Saturday, July 25, 2020

Controlled Flight Into Terrain: Condor, N3502X; accident occurred July 04, 2020 in Freedom, Outagamie County, Wisconsin





Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Freedom, WI
Accident Number:CEN20CA275 
Date & Time: 07/04/2020, 2030 CDT
Registration: N3502X
Aircraft: CONDOR CONDOR
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot said he was flying over his home's driveway with a passenger so a family member could take pictures as he flew over. He said he descended to an altitude he thought was above wires at the end of his driveway, which he estimated were 25 ft above the ground. As he tracked along the driveway he added full power to climb when he was about 500 ft from the wires, but the powered parachute climbed slowly and the left wheel caught a wire. The aircraft descended into the ground, substantially bending and damaging the aircraft fuselage structure that included the parachute attachment point. The pilot indicated there were no mechanical anomalies with the aircraft that contributed to the accident. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to initiate a climb in a timely manner which resulted in contact with wires.

Findings

Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Personnel issues Delayed action - Pilot
Aircraft Climb rate - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/24/2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/27/2019
Flight Time:  287 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50 hours (Total, this make and model), 287 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CONDOR
Registration: N3502X
Model/Series:CONDOR 
Aircraft Category: Powered Parachute
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number:A114CDR 
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/14/2007, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1100 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 89 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:  as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 582ULDCDI-99
Registered Owner: Conrad William A
Rated Power: 65 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions

Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time:
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Oneida, WI
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Freedom, WI
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1945 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 1 None

Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 44.376389, -88.271389 (est)

OUTAGAMIE, Wisconsin (WFRV) – The Town of Freedom faced disruption of power after a pair of powered parachutes struck a power line and crashed in a farm field on Saturday night.

According to the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at around 8 p.m. to the area of N3800 Weyers Road in the Town of Freedom for a report of a powered parachute that had struck a power line and crashed in a farm field.

Upon deputies’ arrival, it was determined the powered parachute was operated by an adult man with an adult woman passenger, who are both from the Freedom area.

Officials said the operator of the powered parachute was not injured and the passenger was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Deputies believe the power to the immediate area was disrupted due to the crash. WE Energies is said to have responded to the scene to restore power.

The Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Gold Cross Ambulance.

https://www.wearegreenbay.com

9 comments:

  1. These are the types of pilots who scare mechanics of certified planes into submission.

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  2. This man may be many things, but pilot is not one of them.

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  3. Look at me mommy I can fly!

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  4. Because the view of the driveway from 25' above is simply spectacular. Surprised this hayseed wasn't flying a powered lawn chair.

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  5. It's slow going, but he will learn a little bit from every crash.

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    1. Brilliant!! With each crash he learns a little bit more. No need to read books when you can learn from first hand experience.

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  6. Well this is the way the pioneer pilots did it. Fly and learn by the seat of your pants then teach others from your FUBARs if you survive them. Many did because those early aircraft flew so slow. Some 100+ years later however, we have all bases covered for learning how to fly from instructors of every type of aircraft. But for this clown, as Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon!"

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    Replies

    1. A very fortunate couple of "Maroons"..am I allowed to say that?..I know I should not say Axx-hxxxs

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