Franklin, IL, USA
N5164G
BUCKEYE AVIATION INC BREEZE
N94495
SIX CHUTER SR7 XL
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.
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.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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