# Accident 20231022018659A: Roth Frank Ronald AVID AIRCRAFT, Knoxville, TN, October 22, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2023, 08:30 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Airport: Sky Ranch
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9007° N, 83.9627° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9007&lon=-83.9627&mi=10
- Aircraft: N246ML, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N246ML) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Roth Frank Ronald AVID AIRCRAFT (registry code 056013I, https://openairdocs.org/model/roth-frank-ronald-avid-aircraft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTH FRANK RONALD AVID AIRCRAFT
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 232 total, 23 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231022018659A

## Narrative

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

DID FULL PREFLIGHT. DID FULL ENGINE RUN UP. ALL PROVED NORMAL. TOOK OFF FROM TN98 RUNWAY 01 WEATHER PERFECT. WINDS ABOUT 2MPH FROM THE NORTH.  ENGINE CONDITION NORMAL. EGTS NORMAL. ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE NORMAL.  TAKE OFF RUN ALL NORMAL. ON CLIMBOUT, ENGINE WENT FROM 6000 RPM TO FULL STOPPAGE IN 2 SECONDS AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FT ABOVE GROUND. NO ABNORMAL SOUNDS CAME FROM ENGINE. NO WARNING. PROPELLER STOPPED.  IMMEDIATELY EVALUATED LANDING OPTIONS. FORWARD WERE BIG TREES AND RIVER.  TO THE RIGHT WAS HIGHER ELEVATED TERRAIN AND OBSTRUCTIONS.  I BEGAN MAKING A TURN TO THE LEFT HOPING TO LAND TO THE SOUTH, BUT THERE WAS A BUILDING I WOULD HAVE STRUCK AND I DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE A STEEPER LEFT TURN AND INADVERTENTLY STALL AND SPIN.  FROM THE LEFT TURN, I MADE A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN AND OPTED TO GO INTO THE RIVER TRYING TO AVOID LARGER TREES. AT THIS POINT I HAD LOST SIGNIFICANT ALTITUDE. TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 15 FEET SHORT OF THE RIVER BANK. AVOIDED A BIG TREE TO THE RIGHT, BUT COULDN’T AVOID ALL TREES. STRUCK A SMALLER TREE TO THE LEFT WITH THE LEFT WINGTIP AND AN UNSEEN METAL FENCE POST.   WENT THROUGH THE TREE LINE INTO THE RIVER IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND PLANE STAYED UPRIGHT. WATER ENTERED THE COCKPIT RAPIDLY AND FLOODED THE CABIN QUICKLY. I WAS ABLE TO RELEASE MY SEATBELT AND EXIT THE AIRPLANE. THE PLANE CONTINUED TO FLOAT AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SHORE IN SHALLOW WATER AND WAS ABLE TO TIE THE TAIL TO A TREE WITH SOME STRAPPING I FOUND ON THE SHORE. FROM THERE, I CLIMBED OUT AND WALKED BACK TO SKYRANCH AIRPORT AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO 911.

## 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 ERA24LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA018), Oct 22, 2023: Roth Frank Ronald Avid Aircraft (N246ML), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to a seized piston in the power take-off cylinder.

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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