# NTSB GAA17CA236: Zeiler Bakeng Duce 1976 CZ, N122BD, Oliver Springs, TN, April 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 15, 2017, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Oliver Springs, TN - Coordinates: 36.023334, -84.300277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0233&lon=-84.3003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 20, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95017 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95017/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95017 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA236 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized approach and failure to go around, which resulted in impact with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0565058), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during approach, while flying from the rear seat of the tandem-seat, high-wing airplane, he "needed to lose speed and altitude." He placed the airplane in a right-wing-low, forward slip, and he added that the airplane had poor forward visibility at slower speeds. He aligned the airplane with the center of the runway and "pulled the nose up slightly to slow [down]," and a "wind gust" came from the right and "pushed" the airplane over the trees. He "saw [the] tree tops coming up fast under [his] left wing," and "out of shear instinct, [he] banked slightly right to avoid going in nose first." The airplane collided with the tree tops. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported that the wind was variable at 3 knots. The pilot landed to the southwest. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during approach, while flying from the rear seat of the tandem seat, high-wing airplane, he "needed to lose speed and altitude". He placed the airplane in a right-wing low, forward slip, and he added that the airplane had poor forward visibility at slower speeds. He aligned the airplane with the center of the runway and "pulled the nose up slightly to slow [down]," and a "wind gust" came from the right and "pushed" the airplane over the trees. He "saw [the] tree tops coming up fast under [his] left wing", and "out of shear instinct, [he] banked slightly right to avoid going in nose first". The airplane collided with the tree tops. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 3 nautical miles from the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported the wind variable at 3 knots. The pilot landed to the southwest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N122BD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122BD-2019-01-22), registration cancelled 2019-01-22, S/N 1776-CZ, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZEILER BAKENG DUCE 1976 CZ (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/zeiler-bakeng-duce-1976-cz) (registry code 0565058) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1776-CZ - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 787.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 9, 2016 - Departed: BYL, WILLIAMSBURG, KY - Destination: Oliver Springs, TN - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 277 total, 27 in this make and model, 245 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KOQT, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20170415008459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170415008459A), Apr 15, 2017: Zeiler BAKENG DUCE 1976-CZ, Oliver Springs, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on approach to private airport and contacted trees then crashed ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95017. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.