Death in PPC accident

[Bruce Brown]

Parachute flyer probably drowned


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Ultralight plane hit wires, crashed


By Jim Hannah, jhannah@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ALEXANDRIA — A retired Procter & Gamble technician apparently drowned, unable to unbuckle his seat belt, when his open-air flying machine crashed into the lake at A. J. Jolly Park Thursday evening.

This parachute flyer was recovered from the lake at A.J. Jolly Park and taken to Seibert's Auto Service.
(Patrick Reddy photo)
| ZOOM |
The flying machine, called a powered parachute, became tangled in a guy wire about 45 feet above the lake at 8:30 p.m., according to Campbell County Police. The pilot, Michael Albert Kappes, 50, of Alexandria, struggled to get out before the craft fell into the lake and quickly sank to the bottom, boaters told police.

“He was an active, enjoyable guy who took early retirement to do what he enjoyed,” said Mr. Kappes' son-in-law, John LeForce of Fort Thomas. “He bought an RV to travel around the country with his wife and had been flying his parachute for three years.”

Mr. Kappes was underwater for up to half an hour before bystanders and rescuers managed to get him to the surface, according to police. Attempts at resuscitation failed, and the Campbell County Coroner pronounced him dead at 10:22 p.m.

Mr. LeForce said Mr. Kappes had never had problems with his powered parachute before. He would regularly take off and land at the park. His Chevy Trailblazer with a trailer to pull the craft was still parked Friday morning next to a ballfield.

Mr. Kappes also was a ham radio operator and had worked with the ham radio emergency team during the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in 1977 and the more recent Falmouth flood, his family said.

Campbell County Police were still investigating the accident.

[rkbarms]

I am so very sorry to hear or read about such events.

My newness to the sport keeps me from crossing bodies of water without significant altitude. I am chicken and freely admit it. I have seen some folks do the 'low and slow' over water and you are placing all of your tomorrows in the absolute flawless functioning of that two cylinder engine. One engine cough, sputter or downward wind gust and you are now riding a 400lb boat anchor to the bottom.

I remember seeing, but cannot rememeber where, on the internet an emergency inflatable product someone had developed for PPCs. It was essentially a large inflatable air bag that remained compressed. The device attaches to the bottom of the PPC and opens rapidly when triggered in the event of an impending water landing. I suppose that it gives you a few moments to free your self and get away from the machine and chute lines. I'll try to find that product.

I would guess that it adds more weight and resistance to the machine, but for those who must or can't avoid flying over or around water- it's a thought.

[rkbarms]

I was able to find that product.

The link is: http://www.nebulusflotation.com/files/video.htm

There is a video of an actual PPC water landing. :eek: It claims to keep ~500 lbs floating. Looks interesting.

The customer is the final judge.

[Plater1956]

I was visiting with family members this weekend in Cambell County where A.J. Jolly is located. I'm fairly new to the world of PPC's an was telling them about my new sport. I was suprised that they really knew anything about them when my nephew spoke up about the incident with the Powered Parachute that had crashed in the lake. He is a member of the life squad and saw it hit the power line. He said the pilot was flying very low and struck the power line with the chute flying over the top of the lines. The PPC then droped into the water engine first with the chute falling on top. He went in after the man but was unable to save him. Cause of death ended up being a heart attack, likely from his efforts to free himself. My nephew was given a award for efforts to save the pilot.