# NTSB GAA16LA199: Buckeye Industries Dream Machine, N2564A, Culver, IN, April 23, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 2016, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Culver, IN
- Coordinates: 41.210277, -86.371391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2103&lon=-86.3714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 16, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93066
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16LA199
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93066/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93066
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA199

## Probable cause

The noncertificated pilot’s failure to attain a climb in the powered-parachute and its subsequent impact with a tree.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [Training: initial instruct/training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: knowledge of regulatory reqs](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032025/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032025/cases.md)
- [Knowledge: aeronautical knowledge](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035/cases.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032035/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059001Z), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The noncertificated pilot was conducting a local personal flight in the powered-parachute, which he had purchased about 3 days before the accident flight. The pilot reported that, during his second attempt to take off from a grass field, he tried to avoid a tree by using the right rudder pedal, but the powered-parachute drifted left and impacted the tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the envelope. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported that he did not hold any flight certificates and had not received any flight instruction in the powered-parachute before the accident flight nor that he aware that he was required to do so. It is likely that the noncertificated pilot did not fully understand how to operate the powered-parachute, which led to his failure attain a climb and the subsequent impact with a tree.

## Factual narrative

On April 23, 2016 about 1730 central daylight time (CDT), a Buckeye Industries, Dream Machine powered parachute, N2564A, impacted a tree shortly after takeoff from a private field about 2.5 miles southeast of Culver, Indiana. The solo non-certificated pilot sustained serious injuries. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The powered parachute was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR), personal local flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the accident, the pilot did not hold any flight certificates and has not had any previous flight instruction. He further reported that the powered parachute had been purchased about three days prior to the accident flight. The pilot told the inspector that he was unaware that he needed flight training or a flight certificate to fly the powered parachute. The pilot reported that on his second attempt to take off from a grass field, he attempted to avoid a tree by using the right rudder pedal, but the powered parachute drifted left and impacted a tree. The powered parachute sustained substantial damage to the envelope. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Powered Parachute Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-29 (2007). This handbook discusses the pilot certificate eligibility requirements and states in part: You may not act as pilot in command (PIC) of a light-sport aircraft powered parachute unless you hold a pilot certificate with a powered parachute rating issued by the FAA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2564A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2564A), registered now, S/N 6220, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUCKEYE INDUSTRIES DREAM MACHINE
- Registry model: [Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE](https://openairdocs.org/model/buckeye-industries-dream-machine) (registry code 059001Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: 6220
- Year built: 2001
- Engines: ROTAX 582 E Drive 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Michael D. Wood
- Registered owner: Michael D. Wood
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2013
- Departed: Culver, IN
- Destination: Culver, IN
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0.1 total, 0.1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KRCR, 12 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20160423003569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160423003569A), Apr 23, 2016: Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, Culver, IN, Minor damage. [privacy data omitted] Recently purchased the aircraft. He had no training to fly any aircraft he only read the book on how to fly the aircraft. [privacy data…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93066. 996 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 781 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of Recovery Service) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440597&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Recovery%20Service)-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.

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