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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 25, 2013 · Buckeye Aviation Breeze · N5164G

Franklin, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 2013
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Franklin, IL
Aircraft
Buckeye Aviation Breeze
Tail Number
N5164G
Operator
Birdsell Charles
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13LA506

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

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.

Full Narrative

On August 24, 2013, about 1930 central daylight time, a Buckeye Breeze, N5164G, and a Six Chuter SR7 XL, N94495, collided in midair while in the pattern at a private airpark near Franklin, Illinois. Both powered parachutes were registered to and operated by their respective pilots under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flights. The pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was seriously injured and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot of the Six Chuter and his passenger were both seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for either flight. Both local flights originated from the private airpark about 1900. According to the pilot of the Buckeye Breeze, he was in a descent on a northbound heading to land on the easterly grass runway. According to the pilot of the Six Chuter, he was on a left downwind to land on the northerly grass runway. The main body of the Buckeye Breeze collided with the suspension lines of the Six Chuter about 300 feet above the ground. Neither pilot was utilizing their handheld radio to broadcast pattern intentions. Neither pilot observed the other until immediately prior to their collision. After colliding, both powered parachutes descended and impacted into a heavily forested area. The non-certificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was issued a student pilot certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 23, 2007, with an expiration date of June 30, 2009. This pilot had not pursued any further certification.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 CDT
Nearest AirportPRIVATE (1nm S)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBuckeye Aviation Breeze
Tail NumberN5164G
Aircraft CategoryPpar
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBirdsell Charles
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582DCDI · Reciprocating · 65 | Rotax · 582DCDI · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (3 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 75 · None · Serious
Crew 2Age 68 · Sprt · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind130° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.18 inHg
Observation Time00:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data