Accident Overview
On August 8, 2015, at approximately 1945 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Buckeye Dream Machine powered parachute collided with a tree and impacted terrain on private property in Zeeland, Michigan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight had originated from Zeeland about 1930.
Witness Accounts
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft in a left bank when it clipped a tree and then impacted terrain in the pilot's back yard.
Pilot Interview
A deputy interviewed the pilot at the scene. The deputy noted that the pilot "smelled heavily intoxicants. His eyes were glassy, his speech slurred, and thick tongued." The pilot admitted to consuming "two beers earlier in the day." The pilot consented to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT), which yielded a result of 0.16% Breath Alcohol Content (BRAC).