What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On January 14, 2017 at approximately 1717 local, a buccaneer ii experimental aircraft departed from the suwanee river upstream (north bound). The pilot then reversed direction, lined up with the river, descended and flew low level southbound over the river. During the low level regime, the aircraft struck power lines that crossed the river east to west perpendicular to the shoreline. The aircraft came to rest inverted in the center of the river, facing north bound. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
ON JANUARY 14, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 1717 LOCAL, A BUCCANEER II EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM THE SUWANEE RIVER UPSTREAM (NORTH BOUND). THE PILOT THEN REVERSED DIRECTION, LINED UP WITH THE RIVER, DESCENDED AND FLEW LOW LEVEL SOUTHBOUND OVER THE RIVER. DURING THE LOW LEVEL REGIME, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES THAT CROSSED THE RIVER EAST TO WEST PERPENDICULAR TO THE SHORELINE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED IN THE CENTER OF THE RIVER, FACING NORTH BOUND. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.