# Accident 20170402008399A: Buckeye Aviation DREAM MACHINE, Knoxville, TN, April 2, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2017, 16:45 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8714° N, 84.1569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8714&lon=-84.1569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4017L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4017L-2018-08-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Buckeye DREAM MACHINE (registry code 059010A, https://openairdocs.org/model/buckeye-dream-machine) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582E (registry code 55557, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUCKEYE AVIATION DREAM MACHINE
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 85 total, 85 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170402008399A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE OWNER/PILOT WAS CONDUCTING LOW LEVEL OPERATIONS OVER DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE AIRSPACE. (TYS)  THE PILOT CONDUCTED THESE FLIGHTS ALONE AND LATER WITH A PASSENGER ONBOARD.

WEATHER AND WIND WERE NOT A FACTOR, ACCORDING TO WEATHER REPORTS FOR THE OPERATING AREA.

THE PILOT, ALONG WITH A PASSENGER DEPARTED  POWELL TENNESSEE.  THIS AREA IS WHERE THE AIRCRAFT IS BASED.  THIS FLIGHT WAS TO THE PASSENGERS HOME AREA, (FARAGUT, TN) APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES.

WITNESSES STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW OVER THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, IN FACT THEY WAVED AND THE PILOT WAVED BACK. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PASSENGERS HOUSE WAS IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.

OTHER WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENGINE REV UPPED, AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO "GO UP".

INVESTIGATION ON THE SCENE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT WAS INTACT AND IN RELATIVELY GOOD CONDITION.   THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO GO STRAIGHT DOWN BESIDE LARGE TREES.

THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM A LARGE OPEN FIELD AND ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM TWO SEPARATE SUBDIVISIONS, ON OPPOSITES SIDE OF THE WOODED AREA.

THE SURROUNDING ACCIDENT SITE SHOWED NO LARGE TREE (TREES WERE APPROXINATLEY 100 FEET IN HEIGHT) LIMBS WERE BROKEN.  IT DID APPEAR THE AIRCRAFT FELL STRAIGHT DOWN.

THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE, WITHOUT PROPELLERS, WAS GROUND RUN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.  NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE RUN NOTED.

ALL THREE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE TIPS GOING INBOARD WERE DAMAGED/FRAYED.  THIS INDICATED THE PROPELLER WERE TURNING AND HAD STRUCK OBJECTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17FA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA144), Apr 2, 2017: Buckeye Dream Machine (N4017L), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to maneuver the aircraft at low altitude, towards rising terrain, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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