Buckeye DREAM MACHINE N4394V

Summary

On 8 July 2014 at about 12:50 local time, a Buckeye DREAM MACHINE registered N4394V was involved in an accident near Ansley, Nebraska, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 July 2014 at 12:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Ansley, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

41.2314, -99.4000

Aircraft

Buckeye DREAM MACHINE

Registration

N4394V

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ansley → Ansley

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA346

1 person died.

The powered parachute's reduced takeoff performance in tailwind conditions for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the noncertificated pilot's decision to not abort the takeoff before the powered parachute collided with the fence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot attempted to depart from the 600-foot-long grass field to the west in a powered parachute, but it did not lift off, so he turned the powered parachute around and attempted to depart to the east. The powered parachute again did not lift off and subsequently collided with a fence. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Performance estimates for the powered parachute noted that the takeoff roll could vary between 150 and 500 ft. The closest aviation weather reporting station, located 16 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported a 10-knot wind from the northwest, which would have resulted in a headwind for the westerly takeoff attempt. It could not be determined why the powered parachute did not lift off during the westerly takeoff attempt. However, for the easterly takeoff attempt, it is likely the tailwind would have decreased the parachute's takeoff performance. Had the pilot aborted the takeoff with sufficient runway remaining, the powered parachute might not have collided with the fence. There is no evidence that the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff before colliding with the fence, and it is unknown if the pilot perceived the imminent collision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.