Buckeye Industries INC DREAM MACHINE 582 accident near Chester, Montana, January 19, 2018
On January 19, 2018 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1998 Buckeye Industries INC DREAM MACHINE 582 (powered parachute), registered N92048, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Chester, Montana. 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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2018 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Industries INC DREAM MACHINE 582, built 1998 · all DREAM MACHINE 582s on the register
- Registration
- N92048 · registry record · serial 4387
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The powered parachute collided with power lines in a snow-covered, rural field; the pilot sustained major burn injuries and did not recall the impact or events leading up to the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of flight control failure or malfunction, and fuel was present in the fuel tanks. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the power lines while operating at low altitude.
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 with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Awareness of condition
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Chester MT at 9:50 pm
- Destination: Chester MT
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KHVR, 48 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.