Buckeye Dream Machine accident near Monticello, Kentucky, July 4, 2006
On July 4, 2006, a Buckeye Dream Machine (powered parachute), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The misplaced parachute suspension line, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control. A factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2006
- Place
- Monticello, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Dream Machine, amateur-built · all Dream Machines on the register
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 3651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Several weeks before the accident, the accident pilot met a powered parachute pilot who agreed to help the pilot learn how to fly. The pilot subsequently purchased a powered parachute, and both individuals flew it two days before the accident flight. On the day of the accident, both pilots met and performed a preflight inspection of the vehicle. Shortly after takeoff on the accident flight, the vehicle began an un-commanded turn to the right. The pilot reported that the vehicle would not turn left. The other pilot advised the accident pilot, via radio, to hold down the left pedal and to increase the engine power. After several right turns, the vehicle was aligned with the landing field, but during the final moments of the approach, the engine powered reduced, and the vehicle entered a descending turn and impacted the ground. Review of a video taken of the initial portion of the flight revealed that one of the parachute suspension lines was wrapped around the aft trailing edge of the parachute, resulting in the un-commanded right turn. No mechanical discrepancies were noted with the vehicle or the engine.
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
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Monticello KY at 4:01 am
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from EKQ, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.