- Date
- June 22, 2009, 21:35 local (Jun 23, 2009, 01:35 UTC)
- Place
- Marian, IN
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2526JBuckeye Dream Mach
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 74105
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the utility pole and power lines.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The powered parachute was taking off from a field behind a residence when the accident occurred. A witness stated that the aircraft took off and flew over the residence prior to him hearing a "crash." He then observed the aircraft on the ground with power lines around it. The parachute and parachute lines were wrapped around the utility pole and power lines. The operating limitations for the aircraft state that the pilot in command of the aircraft must hold at least a student pilot certificate, a sport pilot certificate, or a recreational pilot certificate with the appropriate endorsements. The pilot in command did not hold a pilot certificate.
Factual narrative
The powered parachute was taking off from a field behind a residence when the accident occurred. A witness stated the aircraft took off and flew over the residence prior to him hearing a "crash." He then observed the aircraft on the ground with power lines around it. The parachute and parachute lines were wrapped around the utility pole and power lines. The operating limitations for the aircraft state the pilot in command of the aircraft must hold at least a student pilot certificate, a sport pilot certificate, or a recreational pilot certificate with the appropriate endorsements. The pilot in command did not hold a pilot certificate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2526J
- Reported as
- Buckeye Dream Mach
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 3611
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Johnson Dale F
- Registered owner
- Johnson Dale F
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Departed
- Marian, IN
- Destination
- Marian, IN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- Serious
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 20 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- MIE, 24 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 21, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.