NTSB ERA13CA009 — 2012-10-04 · Cumming, Georgia, United States

Current FAA registration · N580PG

Make / Model: POWRACHUTE PEGASUS
Year of manufacture: 2002 · 10 years old at event
Engine: ROTAX 582SER (65 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20100105
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A77734

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N580PG Powrachute Pegasus Minor

Probable cause & findings

The operation of the powered parachute by a non-certificated pilot, and his failure to maintain directional control during the initial climb, which resulted in a collision with trees.

Factual narrative

The non-certificated pilot/owner of the powered parachute reported that he aborted his first takeoff because the riser lines to the canopy became entangled. During the subsequent takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a "gust of wind" from the left, and the craft was pushed into trees to the right of the runway which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and canopy. After the accident, the pilot/owner reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the powered parachute. The non-certificated pilot of the powered parachute reported that he aborted his first takeoff because the riser lines to the canopy became entangled. During the subsequent takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a "gust of wind" from the left, and the craft was pushed into trees on the right of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe and canopy. After the accident, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the powered parachute. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ERA13CA009.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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