Destiny XLT 2000 accident near Grayson, Georgia, August 12, 2012
On August 12, 2012 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Destiny XLT 2000 (powered parachute), registered N103ME, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Grayson, Georgia. 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 non-certificated pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2012 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grayson, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Destiny XLT 2000
- Registration
- N103ME · no longer on the register · serial 1B0108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot, who recently purchased the powered parachute, stated that he noted that the packed parachute had become wet, so he planned to operate the engine to dry the parachute material. He also stated that he did not check the fuel quantity before starting the engine because he did not intend to fly the aircraft. Because of safety and space concerns, the pilot repositioned the aircraft from his home to a nearby school for the operation. However, the pilot stated that when he started the engine, the wind speed increased, and the powered parachute became airborne. The pilot stated that when he attempted to land, the engine sputtered, then the rpm increased, and then went to idle, which is consistent with fuel starvation. He maneuvered the aircraft toward the side of a road; however, the left rear wheel contacted a telephone line. During postaccident interviews, the pilot stated that he did not believe there was a preimpact mechanical malfunction that would have precluded normal operation and indicated that the amount of fuel in the tank was minimal.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
Pilot
- Flight time: 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 77 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grayson GA at 4:25 pm
- Destination: Grayson GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LZU, 6 miles away
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.