Powrachute PC 2000 accident near Goodfield, Illinois, August 2, 2008
On August 2, 2008 at about 10:24 pm local time, a Powrachute PC 2000, registered N9338W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Goodfield, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The insufficient aircraft performance data available to the pilot and the inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Contributing to the accident were the trees and density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2008 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- Goodfield, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Powrachute PC 2000 · all PC 2000s on the register
- Registration
- N9338W · registry record · serial A28POW
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The powered parachute was an existing aircraft without an airworthiness that was certified as an experimental light sport aircraft, The pilot was attempting a takeoff towards the northeast from a grass field in a park, which had trees at its edge. The aircraft was about 20 feet above ground level when the parachute contacted the trees, which was about 644 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. The grass length in the field was approximately 2 1/2 inches. The prevailing winds were calm and the density altitude was approximately 2,800 feet. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, which included bent fuselage tubing. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The parachute was a Performance Designs Paraglider, Inc. Sunriser, part number PG0500P01, serial number PG500-001713., manufactured 08/1999. Weight and balance information for the aircraft shows a useful load of 540 lbs. The following weights were recorded: pilot - 195 lbs, passenger - 215 lbs, fuel - 60 lbs, 1 gallon of coolant - 8 lbs, 4 pints of oil - 4 lbs, 2 helmets - 4 lbs. The only takeoff performance information for the aircraft lists a takeoff roll of 25 feet to 300 feet. There is no aircraft performance data, which is not required by certification regulations, available to the pilot.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Goodfield IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9338W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CHI08CA237.