Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE accident near Smithville, Texas, March 31, 2014
On March 31, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Smithville, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The operation of an aircraft by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on take-off in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Smithville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE Trike · all DREAM MACHINEs on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial unk
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was attempting to take off in his unregistered powered-parachute to the south when a gust of wind caught the parachute before it had fully inflated. The pilot said the engine was running but he was unable to control the aircraft and collided with a tree. He and his passenger were both seriously injured. Weather reported at an airport 32 miles northwest of the accident was wind from 170 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 24 knots.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unk UNK (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Smithville TX
- Destination: Smithville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from AUS, 32 miles away
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 UNREG 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.