N6122F

On September 23, 2013, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Buckeye Industries model Dream Machine powered-parachute, N6122F, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from a private airstrip near St. Joseph, Michigan. The sport pilot was not injured, but his passenger was seriously injured. The powered-parachute was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, local-area flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was attempting a northbound takeoff from a private airstrip (2,350 feet by 40 feet, grass). The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll the powered-parachute encountered a "mild" wind gust from the east that partially collapsed the right side of the parachute. The pilot corrected by making a slight left turn, but the powered-parachute became airborne with the right side of the parachute still underinflated. The powered-parachute descended back to the airstrip, bounced, and then yawed left after becoming airborne a second time. The pilot reported that he overcorrected for the yaw and the fuselage cart swung to the right. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff while the powered-parachute was about 6 feet above the airstrip. The powered-parachute impacted terrain nose first before it rolled over. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the powered-parachute that would have prevented normal operation. The steel tube cart was substantially damaged during the impact sequence and the passenger sustained a fracture of his left fibula.

The nearest aviation weather reporting station was located at Southwest Michigan Regional Airport (BEH), Benton Harbor, Michigan, about 7 miles north of the accident site. At 1853, the BEH automated surface observing system reported: wind from 110 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 18 degrees Celsius, dew point 8 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.07 inches of Mercury.