# NTSB CEN14CA179: Buckeye Industries Dream Machine, Smithville, TX, March 31, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 31, 2014, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Smithville, TX
- Coordinates: 30.000276, -97.150115 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0003&lon=-97.1501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89000
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89000/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89000
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA179

## Probable cause

The operation of an aircraft by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on take-off in gusty wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot was attempting to take off in his unregistered powered-parachute to the south when a gust of wind caught the parachute before it had fully inflated. The pilot said the engine was running but he was unable to control the aircraft and collided with a tree. He and his passenger were both seriously injured. Weather reported at an airport 32 miles northwest of the accident was wind from 170 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 24 knots.

## Factual narrative

The non-certificated pilot was attempting to take off in his unregistered powered-parachute to the south when a gust of wind caught the parachute before it had fully inflated. The pilot said the engine was running but he was unable to control the aircraft and collided with a tree. He and his passenger were both seriously injured. Weather reported at an airport 32 miles northwest of the accident was wind from 170 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 24 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BUCKEYE INDUSTRIES DREAM MACHINE (Trike)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: unk
- Engines: UNK UNK unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Terry D. Brewer
- Registered owner: Terry D. Brewer
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: Smithville, TX
- Destination: Smithville, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: serious

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observed at: AUS, 32 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89000. 288 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation, FAA Inspector (item 1, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426491&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Written Statement, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement,%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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