- Date
- July 4, 2024, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Bainbridge, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGBuckeye Dream Machine
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 194648
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 non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to alcohol and methamphetamine use.
Findings · 4
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 of the unregistered powered parachute did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration-issued pilot or medical certificate. Witnesses stated that the pilot was flying over a highway when the powered parachute collided with powerlines and a postimpact fire ensued. Additionally, witness video showed the powered parachute flying low near the highway and powerlines just prior to the accident. The pilot was fatally injured and fire consumed a majority of the powered parachute. No pilot or aircraft maintenance logbooks were recovered. Toxicological testing results of the pilot’s blood were positive for ethanol and methamphetamine. It is likely that the pilot was impaired by both substances when he failed to avoid the powerlines.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Buckeye Dream Machine
- Category
- Powered parachute
- Serial number
- 0
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Departed
- NONE · Colquitt, GA
- Destination
- NONE · Bainbridge, GA
- Equipment
- None
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- Fatal
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- BGE, 3 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KBGE 042315Z AUTO 16004KT 10SM CLR 34/23 A2993 RMK AO2 T03390231=
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 10.6 MB in all.