20110604013829A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Buckeye Dream Machine · Morristown, TN · June 4, 2011

Date: June 4, 2011 · 13:20 local
Place: Morristown, TN
Airport: Moore-Murrell
Phase of flight: Unknown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3561F
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA11LA326
Reported as: Buckeye Dream Machine
Reported engine: ROTAX 582
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Sport pilot

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft landed in trees, after the engine failed, due to apparent fuel starvation. Aircraft initially hung in trees until tree branches broke. Pilot sustained serious injuries and died 6/16/2011. Inspection by airworthiness inspectors discovered unauthorized installation of auxiliary fuel tank. Fuel valve position indicated that fuel was being provided to the engine from the auxiliary fuel tank. Auxiliary fuel tank found at scene contained no fuel.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT LANDED IN TREES, AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED, DUE TO APPARENT FUEL STARVATION. AIRCRAFT INITIALLY HUNG IN TREES UNTIL TREE BRANCHES BROKE. PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND DIED 6/16/2011. INSPECTION BY AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS DISCOVERED UNAUTHORIZED INSTALLATION OF AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. FUEL VALVE POSITION INDICATED THAT FUEL WAS BEING PROVIDED TO THE ENGINE FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK. AUXILIARY FUEL TANK FOUND AT SCENE CONTAINED NO FUEL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA11LA326Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportRussellville, TNThe pilot’s failure to switch fuel tanks when the fuel was exhausted, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.Jun 4, 2011 · Substantial damage