# NTSB CEN15LA398: Buckeye Dream Macine, Zeeland, MI, August 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2015, 19:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Zeeland, MI - Coordinates: 42.8125, -86.018608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8125&lon=-86.0186&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 11, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA398 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91911/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91911 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA398 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot was conducting a personal flight in the powered-parachute. Witnesses reported seeing the powered-parachute in a left bank when it clipped a tree and then impacted terrain in the pilot's back yard. A sheriff's deputy, who interviewed the pilot after the accident, reported that the pilot "smelled heavily [of] intoxicants. His eyes were glassy, his speech slurred, and thick tongued." The pilot reported to the deputy that he had consumed "two beers earlier in the day." A preliminary breath test of the pilot showed that he had a 0.16 percent blood alcohol concentration, which is beyond the regulatory limit for pilots. Therefore, the pilot's impairment led to his inability to safety operate the powered-parachute and his failure to maintain clearance from a tree. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2015, about 1945 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Buckeye Dream Machine powered parachute collided with a tree and impacted terrain on private property in Zeeland, Michigan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Zeeland about 1930. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. Witnesses told deputies they saw the aircraft in a left bank when it clipped a tree and impacted terrain in the pilot's back yard. A deputy interviewed the pilot and stated he "smelled heavily intoxicants. His eyes were glassy, his speech slurred, and thick tongued." The pilot admitted to the deputy that he had consumed "two beers earlier in the day." The pilot was asked to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT). The pilot consented. The result was 0.16% Breath Alcohol Content (BRAC). ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Buckeye Dream Macine - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: 3765 - Year built: 1997 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 103 - Operator: Scott P. Headley - Registered owner: Scott P. Headley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: None, Zeeland, MI - Destination: None, Zeeland, MI - Airport: None, Scott P. Headley ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 500 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KGRR, 30 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91911. 613 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpt from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Report (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20the%20Ottawa%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.