What happened
On July 8, 2014, at approximately 0750 central daylight time, a Buckeye Dream Machine powered parachute, N4394V, was involved in an accident near Ansley, Nebraska. The flight was a local operation originating from a 200-yard long grass field, operating under visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
During the initial takeoff attempt toward the west, the aircraft failed to become airborne. Following this unsuccessful attempt, the pilot turned the aircraft 180 degrees to attempt a departure toward the east. The aircraft again failed to lift off the ground and subsequently collided with a barbed wire fence that bordered the field. The collision resulted in 1 fatality and 1 injury (minor).
The investigation
An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. While maintenance records were not recovered, the pilot's family stated there were no known mechanical issues with the aircraft. A witness observed that the parachute appeared to be fully inflated during both takeoff attempts.
Weather data from the Broken Bow Municipal Airport (KBBW), located approximately 16 nautical miles northwest of the site, indicated winds from 300 degrees at 10 knots with clear skies. While a northwest wind would have provided a headwind for the western departure, the eastern departure attempt would have encountered a tailwind, likely reducing takeoff performance.
Findings
Investigators determined that the aircraft's reduced takeoff performance during the eastern attempt was due to tailwind conditions, though the specific reason the aircraft could not gain sufficient altitude could not be determined. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to not abort the takeoff before the collision occurred.