Powrachute LLC AIRWOLF 912 accident near Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, September 15, 2010
On September 15, 2010 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Powrachute LLC AIRWOLF 912 (powered parachute), registered N377JA, was involved in an accident during takeoff near Pleasant Garden, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control on takeoff during an encounter with a wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2010 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Garden, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Powrachute LLC AIRWOLF 912 · all AIRWOLF 912s on the register
- Registration
- N377JA · registry record · serial A113ULS
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the powered parachute stated that, prior to the flight, he set up a wind sock in a pasture comprised of hilly terrain and lined by trees. Before beginning his takeoff, the wind sock indicated that the wind was calm. During the takeoff, the powered parachute encountered a gust of wind and was blown left where it collided with bushes. As a result of the impact, the vertical front support tube received structural damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 67 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 2, 2009; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 485 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Pleasant Garden NC at 8:10 pm
- Destination: Pleasant Garden NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from GSO, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA10CA480.