PPC Fatality

[tshanson]

A PPC pilot was killed Wendsday 7-6-06 near Newcastle Wyoming. I will try and find out the cause of the crash and post it. He was a local rancher who was checking his livestock when the crash occured, the paper said wind may have been a factor. I was tring to find him a trailer for his PPC a couple of years ago. Heck of a nice guy its a shame.

[tonyray]

A PPC pilot was killed Wendsday 7-6-06 near Newcastle Wyoming. I will try and find out the cause of the crash and post it. He was a local rancher who was checking his livestock when the crash occured, the paper said wind may have been a factor. I was tring to find him a trailer for his PPC a couple of years ago. Heck of a nice guy its a shame.Always gut-wrenching to hear of a trajedy like this. Please do post more info if you are able. Thanks.

[tshanson]

This is the only news i can find about the crash so far.


http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/07/08/news/local/news02.txt

[Teach]

So was it a ppc or ppg? In my experience, a ppg tends to be less forgiving. In 50+ flights in my ppc, I've never had a frontal collapse, spin, or the like; two of my three flights in a ppg did, however, both while under radio instruction. Scared the @#$% out of me. The collapse came at about 450' above a concrete runway. I dropped about 250' before the wing opened back up, giving me the longest 2-3 seconds of my life. Your life really does pass before your eyes... That was enough and the ppg is long gone.

Not that it matters to the poor guy's family or friends, but if you can find out more information, let us know.

Thanks,
Teach

[tshanson]

IT was a PPC, a Six Chuter I think I was helping him find an enclosed trailer a couple of years ago.

[Snoopy_One]

Every time I read about something like this I question what the heck I am doing in a ppc. I hope and pray that all of you have safe flying, and never have to have your families go through this, or even get injured.

[wheelharp1]

I found some more info on the crash on a paragliding site...they included it because of the crash being reported as PPG when it was actually a PPC. I am not posting this to make any kind of statement...Just as more info to read and form your own opinion. My condolences to his family.....................

PPC Fatality reported as PPG
July 12, 2006

There was a tragedy recently In Newcastle, Wyoming involving an Infinity Powered Parachute under an ASAP elliptical wing. Our condolences go out to the family.

It was originally reported as a powered paraglider although the distinction must be minimized since the facts of the accident are very relevant to us all.

After talking with the County Coroner, it appears that a minimally trained pilot was flying in unusually strong conditions early in the morning. The wreckage was found downwind of a large terrain feature that rose more than 300 feet AGL. Damage to the unit was consistent with a nose-low hard impact on the right side and immediate rollover to the right. Ground scarring was minimal beyond the initial impact.

The ASAP Thunderbolt wing was an elliptical type which is generally similar to a PPG wing and therefore more responsive with more active control required in turbulence.

The pilot's typical flight involved flying low to inspect his land and so it seems probable that he encountered strong rotor in the lee of the hill and got into an oscillation that worsened until ground impact or simply lost control. Damage to the propeller suggested a high power setting.

The fact that this is a powered parachute is of little consequence -- a powered paraglider would have been just as susceptible. The pilot was flying in the morning and thought that would relieve him of the need to be an expert wing handler. Rotor doesn't care what time it is -- if there is wind and obstructions, there is rotor in the lee. It is a great reminder of natures power and how much respect that power deserves.

[Celtgreen]

I'll say a pray for the late gentleman and his family.

I fly a Performance Design 400 square foot rectangular chute and love it. In 100 hours of flight I've never had a collapse of any kind and it's always been forgiving requiring little correction from the pilot. It kits up very easily and is basically idiot proof.

I know elliptical chutes have great performance advanages over retangular chutes, but for safty, stability, ease of kitting up and flying I believe retangular chutes are for me.

[ZipItyDoDa]

Well from the post it looks like he had been flying for at least a couple years, so the 'minimally trained pilot' may be off some. Although he may have had minimal experiance in a elliptical wing. And it looks as though he may have ran into conditions that were new to him.

Anyway heres my guess as to what happened. He's flying along and hits a strong gust of wind. His first reaction is to goto full power, while at the same time a hard turn.
The only problem is with an elliptical wing if you do a hard turn it will 'swoop' down hard. (At full power!) If he wasn't used to this it would pile him into the ground at just about the angle that was discribed in the article. And with enough speed to kill someone.
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