Accident Overview
On August 12, 2012, at approximately 1230 eastern daylight time, a Destiny XLT 2000 powered parachute, registered as N103ME, collided with a telephone line and subsequently impacted the ground near Trip Elementary School in Grayson, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the non-certificated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight had originated about five minutes earlier from Trip Elementary School.
Pilot Narrative
The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the powered parachute and transported it from Texas to Georgia. On the day of the accident, he moved the aircraft outside his residence into a cul-de-sac, unpackaged the parachute, and started the engine. He stated that before starting the engine, he did not inspect the fuel tank to determine the fuel quantity. After the parachute inflated, he became concerned about nearby houses, secured the engine, repacked the powered parachute, and trailered it to the elementary school behind his house. At the school, he unpacked the aircraft, laid out the parachute, and sat in the front seat. He did not intend to become airborne, so he did not buckle his seatbelt or shoulder harness, nor did he inspect the fuel tank to determine the quantity.
While at the school, he started the engine but did not look at the fuel quantity gauge. The wind picked up, and the powered parachute became airborne, drifting to the right toward obstructions such as power lines and trees. He added power, put on his seatbelt and shoulder harness, and flew a circuit to return and land. During final approach, he was too far to the right, so he elected to perform another circuit, this time staying to the left. While on final approach at approximately the height of nearby power lines, the engine sputtered. He looked to the right for a landing spot but saw cars on the road. He knew of a nearby pasture but could not land there due to low altitude. He maneuvered the powered parachute to land on the left side of the road, which was the last detail he remembered. When asked about the fuel quantity following recovery, the pilot reported that the amount observed was minimal but did not provide a specific value.
Witness Account
A witness stated that he went to the elementary school to watch the pilot fly the powered parachute. According to the witness, after takeoff, the pilot flew for 20 to 30 minutes. The witness reported that the pilot made a sharp right turn and began descending. The left rear wheel then contacted an elevated telephone line, and the powered parachute descended to the road.