- Date
- August 14, 2010, 08:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place
- Seymour, IN
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N61638Buckeye Industries Dream Machine
- Defining event
- Enroute: Clear air turbulence encounter
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100814044829A
- Case key
- 76966
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
An inadvertent encounter with turbulence which exceeded the performance capability of the powered parachute.
Findings · 2
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 pilot departed from a private airstrip in a powered parachute for a local flight. He stated that about 30 minutes after takeoff, he was flying about 100 feet above ground level (agl), when he encountered some localized turbulence. He described it as a “swirl” and noted that before he knew what happened the aircraft was on the ground. He added that it had been a smooth flight until the turbulence encounter. The pilot commented that it was sunny when he took off, but as the flight progressed, overcast clouds approached from the north. He estimated the height of the overcast layer at 1,500 feet agl, and noted that there were a few lower clouds in the area as well. The pilot stated that there were no issues with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he departed from a private airstrip near his home for a local flight. He stated that about 30 minutes after takeoff, he was flying about 100 feet above ground level (agl), when he encountered some localized turbulence. He described it as a “swirl” and noted that before he knew what happened the aircraft was on the ground. He added that it had been a smooth flight until the turbulence encounter. The pilot commented that it was sunny when he took off but as the flight progressed, overcast clouds approached from the north. He estimated the height of the overcast layer at 1,500 feet agl, and noted that there were a few lower clouds in the area as well. The pilot stated that there were no issues with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61638
- Reported as
- Buckeye Industries Dream Machine
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- E049JS
- Airframe hours
- 632
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 26, 2010
- Departed
- PVT · Seymour, IN
- Destination
- PVT · Seymour, IN
- Airport
- PVT · Private
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
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 52 total · 52 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 282 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.