Southern Powered Parachutes Condor accident near Brookfield, Missouri, June 20, 2008
On June 20, 2008 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Southern Powered Parachutes Condor, registered N3150U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Brookfield, Missouri (North Central Missouri Regiona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity and experience in the accident aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2008 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brookfield, Missouri · North Central Missouri Regiona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Southern Powered Parachutes Condor · all Condors on the register
- Registration
- N3150U · no longer on the register · serial 5742414
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the flight, the pilot and owner conducted a preflight of the aircraft and no anomalies were noted. The takeoff was normal and he climbed the aircraft to 500 feet above ground level (agl). At 500 feet agl, the aircraft encountered strong winds and the pilot elected to descend to a lower altitude as the surface winds were light and variable. The pilot stated that the 15 to 20 minute flight was a "good flight." While in the traffic pattern, the pilot executed shallow bank turns and a slow descent. During straight and level flight approximately 100 feet agl, the pilot experienced a loss of altitude and it felt as though the parachute folded in half. The pilot applied engine power; however, the aircraft impacted terrain. During the impact, the aircraft's left main landing gear struck terrain and the aircraft rolled over onto it's right side. In the days preceding the flight, the pilot read the operations manual for the aircraft. The pilot had no previous experience in powered parachutes and was going to become familiar with the airplane in order to eventually conduct flight training with the new owner.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during uncontrolled descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,110 hours in all; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 20,989 as pilot in command; 569 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MO8 Brookfield MO at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.