Buckeye Aviation INC BREEZE and Six Chuter SR7 XL mid-air collision near Franklin, Illinois, August 25, 2013
On August 25, 2013, 2 aircraft, Buckeye Aviation INC BREEZE (N5164G) and Six Chuter SR7 XL (N94495), were involved in a mid-air collision near Franklin, Illinois (Private airport). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots, one of whom was noncertificated, to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ inadequate communication about their intended traffic patterns.
The failure of both pilots, one of whom was noncertificated, to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering to land, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the pilots’ inadequate communication about their intended traffic patterns.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2013
- Place
- Franklin, Illinois · Private · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Buckeye Aviation INC BREEZE · all BREEZEs on the register
- Registration
- N5164G · no longer on the register · serial 16344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Six Chuter SR7 XL · all SR7 XLs on the register
- Registration
- N94495 · registry record · serial 99-2200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Buckeye Aviation INC BREEZE final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Buckeye Breeze and Six Chuter powered parachutes collided in midair while conducting pattern operations at a private airpark configured with two grass runways oriented north-south and east-west. The noncertificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was approaching the east runway on a northerly heading, and the pilot of the Six Chuter was on the left downwind leg to the north runway on a southerly heading. Neither pilot was using their handheld radio to broadcast their intended traffic patterns. Further, neither pilot noticed the other parachute until immediately before the midair collision.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Six Chuter SR7 XL final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Buckeye Breeze and Six Chuter powered parachutes collided in midair while conducting pattern operations at a private airpark configured with two grass runways oriented north-south and east-west. The noncertificated pilot of the Buckeye Breeze was approaching the east runway on a northerly heading, and the pilot of the Six Chuter was on the left downwind leg to the north runway on a southerly heading. Neither pilot was using their handheld radio to broadcast their intended traffic patterns. Further, neither pilot noticed the other parachute until immediately before the midair collision.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Buckeye Aviation INC BREEZE from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: n/a Franklin IL
- Destination: n/a Franklin IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Six Chuter SR7 XL from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Last flight review: July 6, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 6, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582DCDI (piston); 350 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: n/a Franklin IL
- Destination: n/a Franklin IL
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N5164G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.