Heldeberg Design Blue Heron Marathon accident near Avon, Maine, June 13, 2008
On June 13, 2008 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Heldeberg Design Blue Heron Marathon, registered N5079W, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Avon, Maine (Lindbergh Airport). 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 improper decision to takeoff from an area that was not a designated runway, and his failure to maintain clearance of trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2008 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Avon, Maine · Lindbergh Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Heldeberg Design Blue Heron Marathon
- Registration
- N5079W · no longer on the register · serial H000035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amateur-built experimental light sport airplane, started the engine in an open grass area in front of his hangar at the airport, and motored the vehicle forward to inflate the parachute. In accordance with his "normal operating practice," he applied full power and began the takeoff roll to the south from the open grass area, which was perpendicular to, and east of, the designated 2,300-foot long by 90-foot wide runway. This area was not designated as a runway. The vehicle lifted off, and when it was approximately 15 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot tried to make a 130-degree right turn to the northwest to continue the climb out along the runway. The pilot was unable to complete the turn or clear the trees on the south side of the runway, and the vehicle impacted the trees at approximately 15 feet agl. The pilot reported that this was the first time he had tried to takeoff from the grass area, while carrying a passenger. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the powered parachute during the accident. The winds reported at an airport 34 miles to the southeast, at the time of the accident, were from 320 degrees at 3 knots.
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 during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 132 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 08ME Avon ME at 11:15 pm
- Destination: 08ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,300 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from WVL, 34 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.
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.