# NTSB ERA25LA089: Buckeye Dream Machine, Myakka City, FL, December 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 21, 2024, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Myakka City, FL - Coordinates: 27.340327, -82.137442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3403&lon=-82.1374&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 199501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199501/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199501 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA089 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot’s improper decision to operate the powered parachute in close proximity to a fence, which resulted in a collision with the fence during takeoff. Also causal was the pilot’s decision to operate the powered parachute without having received any formal training. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Training: total instruct/training recvd](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot of the unregistered powered parachute had no formal flight training, but had watched internet videos showing how it was operated. On the day of the accident, he departed from a baseball field and completed an uneventful first solo flight. His second flight was the accident flight. The pilot stated that as he started the takeoff roll for the flight, he realized that he was too close to a fence that surrounded the baseball field but decided to continue the takeoff anyway. As the takeoff continued, the pilot described that there was a gust of wind, and the powered parachute subsequently contacted the fence, seriously injuring the pilot. The powered parachute was not damaged. The pilot did not report that there were any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the powered parachute that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BUCKEYE DREAM MACHINE - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: unknown - Engines: Rotax 582 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: VNC, 23 nm away - METAR: KVNC 212315Z AUTO 31009KT 10SM CLR A3015 RMK AO2 ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199501. 2.3 MB in all. - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18179488&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-pilot-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18180667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-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. --- 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.