Hughes Aero CORP PREDATOR accident near Branson, Missouri, October 16, 2014
On October 16, 2014 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 2007 Hughes Aero CORP PREDATOR, registered N912AM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Branson, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control when executing a landing with a tailwind, resulting in impact with a retaining wall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2014 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Branson, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes Aero CORP PREDATOR NO SERIES, built 2007 · all PREDATORs on the register
- Registration
- N912AM · registry record · serial PC03079XW3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the sport pilot, following an hour long personal flight in the experimental light sport powered parachute, he made an off airfield approach to an open field next to his home. He reported that he established a normal approach to the field and lost control of the powered parachute during the landing. He reported that the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that stood between the field and his home. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the powered parachute prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. The FAA aviation safety inspector assigned to the accident reported that the pilot had a habit of landing in the open field next to his home. During the accident approach, the pilot made the approach with a tail wind and then attempted to abort the landing. However, the pilot was unable to establish a climb and the powered parachute impacted a retaining wall that separated the open field and the pilot's home.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Unknown or undetermined defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wall/barricade › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Branson MO at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Branson MO
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from KBBG, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN15CA065.