Runaway Powered Parachute (PPC)

On August 14th, 2010, a powered parachute got away from its pilot in Tracy, California, and took off on its own. It was found about a week later in Napa, about 70 miles away. No one was hurt in the incident. Someone said that the pilot was unable to start the craft with his electric starter, so he attempted to manually start the aircraft. The throttle was left open or got knocked open before he got on board.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• airplanes
• aviation
• aircraft

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Yeah, it was found about a week later in a tree, 75 miles away. Neither the pilot nor anyone else was hurt in the incident.

[geneland]

I fly powered parachutes and I can easily see how this could happen. They are this easy to fly. Thanks for posting this.

[TroyMccluresbreth]

This deserves many times more views :)

[genogeno1234]

"Oh my god...there's no one in there. I don't think" ROTFLMAO

[kerricat29]

these people talking about cruise control, and automatically going to idle, obviously never flown a true Powered Parachute. That would be a pain to have to hold a throttle the whole time. They have the same concept as an aircraft. the throttle is wherever you leave it.

[craterman01999]

I own one of these, and for the life of me can't figure out how this can happen. Your chute is out, plane is running and you.....go get a coke out of the coke machine? I just don't get it!!

[videoclipits]

I bet it's got kick ass performance with out all that unnecessary weight on-board.

[Terryblount]

A fool and his ppc soon part... haha This is the thrid one I've seen that got away. Maybe when I die I'll have my kids put me in one and send me off into the wild blue yonder since the pilot is obviously unnecessary.

[MarekSHayward]

To put a positive spin on this... How safe and easy to fly is an aircraft that demonstrably flies itself?! No stall, no spin, no collapse and no fly-by-wire auto pilot. The only thing that brought it down was running out of fuel. This is why I took up paramotoring! ; )

[sheepsfoot2]

he"s lucky he didn't get hit by the prop......