What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 1, 2026, privacy data omitted, a Cessna R182, privacy data omitted, was involved in an accident near Lebanon, Tennessee, with one person on board. During the flight, the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The aircraft subsequently descended and came to rest in the playground area of byars dowdy elementary school at approximately 36.205880° n, 86.320333° w.
FAA personnel responded to the accident and conducted an examination of the aircraft and accident site. Aircraft maintenance records, available flight information, witness information, and video evidence were obtained and reviewed as part of the investigation. The aircraft was subsequently recovered and transported to brass aircraft recovery in johnson city, Tennessee, for further examination.
On September 18, 2026, FAA personnel traveled to brass aircraft recovery to continue the examination. Brass aircraft recovery personnel replaced the damaged propeller to facilitate an engine ground run. The engine was primed, started immediately, and operated for approximately one minute. The engine, fuel system, fuel lines, fuel supply, and engine controls were inspected and functionally checked. The systems and components examined operated as advertised, and no mechanical anomalies were identified during the examination that would explain the reported loss of engine power.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A CESSNA R182, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR LEBANON, TENNESSEE, WITH ONE PERSON ON BOARD. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY DESCENDED AND CAME TO REST IN THE PLAYGROUND AREA OF BYARS DOWDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT APPROXIMATELY 36.205880° N, 86.320333° W.
FAA PERSONNEL RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT AND CONDUCTED AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ACCIDENT SITE. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS, AVAILABLE FLIGHT INFORMATION, WITNESS INFORMATION, AND VIDEO EVIDENCE WERE OBTAINED AND REVIEWED AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED AND TRANSPORTED TO BRASS AIRCRAFT RECOVERY IN JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE, FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2026, FAA PERSONNEL TRAVELED TO BRASS AIRCRAFT RECOVERY TO CONTINUE THE EXAMINATION. BRASS AIRCRAFT RECOVERY PERSONNEL REPLACED THE DAMAGED PROPELLER TO FACILITATE AN ENGINE GROUND RUN. THE ENGINE WAS PRIMED, STARTED IMMEDIATELY, AND OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, FUEL LINES, FUEL SUPPLY, AND ENGINE CONTROLS WERE INSPECTED AND FUNCTIONALLY CHECKED. THE SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS EXAMINED OPERATED AS ADVERTISED, AND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE EXAMINATION THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.