Buckeye DREAM MACHINE accident near Ansley, Nebraska, July 8, 2014
On July 8, 2014 at about 12:50 pm local time, a 2001 Buckeye DREAM MACHINE (powered parachute), registered N4394V, was involved in an accident during takeoff near Ansley, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2014 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Ansley, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye DREAM MACHINE, built 2001 · all DREAM MACHINEs on the register
- Registration
- N4394V · no longer on the register · serial 6062
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ansley NE at 12:50 pm
- Destination: Ansley NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KBBW, 16 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN14LA346.