Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE accident near Culver, Indiana, April 23, 2016
On April 23, 2016 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2001 Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE (ultralight), registered N2564A, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Culver, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot’s failure to attain a climb in the powered-parachute and its subsequent impact with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2016 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Culver, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Industries DREAM MACHINE, built 2001 · all DREAM MACHINEs on the register
- Registration
- N2564A · registry record · serial 6220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Initial instruct/training › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of regulatory reqs › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Aeronautical knowledge › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 0.1 hours in all; 0.1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 E Drive (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Culver IN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: Culver IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KRCR, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.