Buckeye Breeze accident near New Market, Tennessee, July 26, 2008
On July 26, 2008 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Buckeye Breeze (powered parachute), registered N3511N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New Market, Tennessee (Private Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to consider the aircraft's performance for the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2008 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Market, Tennessee · Private Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Breeze · all Breezes on the register
- Registration
- N3511N · no longer on the register · serial 6241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot, he went to a friend's farm field for a pleasure flight in his powered parachute. He took off about 1610 for a solo flight in the local area with no problems. Upon landing, a friend indicated that he would like to go for a flight. The student pilot did not see a problem with this and proceeded to take off with the passenger. The student pilot said that "unfortunately, I made an error in judgment, in reference to the length and preparation of the field and did not clear the trees at the end of the field." The aircraft crashed into the trees at the end of the runway. The student pilot further stated that "this accident could have been prevented had I not made a judgment error as to the length, condition [and] type of field used for takeoff. The field was not of sufficient length to get airborne [and] was a non improved farm field with obstacles at the departure end." Additionally, he stated that "density altitude was a concern since the temperature was 90 plus degrees with 65 or higher humidity which created a major lift problem for the machine."
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE New Market TN at 9:00 pm
- Destination: NONE New Market TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
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.
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.