# NTSB CEN23LA414: Buckeye Dream Machine, Fortuna, MO, September 11, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2023, 19:50 local (Sep 11, 2023, 00:50 UTC)
- Place: Fortuna, MO
- Coordinates: 38.570217, -92.792642 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5702&lon=-92.7926&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193109
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA414
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193109/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193109
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA414

## Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain the unregistered powered parachute’s clearance from power lines.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [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)
- [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)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot was operating the unregistered powered parachute, when the parachute collided with power lines. The parachute risers sustained substantial damage. The pilot was ejected from the powered parachute and sustained minor injuries. No further information could be obtained and the reason for the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power lines was not determined. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BUCKEYE DREAM MACHINE
- Category: Powered parachute, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3317
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Private Individual
- Airworthiness certificate: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; medical: unknown; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KDMO, 20 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDMO 110053Z AUTO 18005KT 10SM CLR 23/16 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP192 T02280161=

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193109. 906 KB in all.

- Memo of information (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17312536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20CEN23LA414-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 842 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17313340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%202-Rel.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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