Buckeye Aviation DREAM MACHINE accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, April 2, 2017
On April 2, 2017 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2005 Buckeye Aviation DREAM MACHINE (powered parachute), registered N4017L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Knoxville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to maneuver the aircraft at low altitude, towards rising terrain, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2017 · about 7:30 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Buckeye Aviation DREAM MACHINE NO SERIES, built 2005 · all DREAM MACHINEs on the register
- Registration
- N4017L · registry record · serial 16469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot and the passenger were making a local flight in the powered parachute. The passenger, who survived the accident, reported that, about an hour into the flight, the pilot turned to the east toward the passenger's home. After overflying the passenger's home at low altitude, the pilot maneuvered the powered parachute to the east toward rising terrain and trees. The passenger's wife was outside her home at the time of the accident and noticed that the aircraft was flying low, and other witnesses also reported seeing the aircraft flying low before the accident. According to the passenger, the aircraft did not climb quickly enough to clear the trees; the landing gear struck about three trees; and the aircraft dropped into the woods striking tree limbs on the way down. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or anomaly, and the passenger reported that he did not notice any significant change in engine speed before the aircraft struck the trees. The engine ran satisfactorily when tested after the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 90 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 7, 2017
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 139 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582E (piston); 139 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: None Powell TN at 6:15 pm
- Destination: None Powell TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from TYS, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 10 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (NTSB Photo)
Photo 2 - Main Wreckage (NTSB Photo)
Photo 3 - Main Wreckage (NTSB Photo)
Photo 4 – Engine and Propeller (NTSB Photo)
Photo 5 – Parachute Wing and Lines (NTSB Photo)
Photo 6 – Aft Fuselage, with Engine and Propeller (NTSB Photo)
Photo 7 – Propeller Blade Damage (NTSB Photo)
Photo 8 – Engine (NTSB Photo)
Photo 9 – No. 2 Cylinder Spark Plugs (NTSB Photo)
Photo 10 – No. 1 Cylinder Spark Plugs (NTSB Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on December 19, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Memo for Record - Passenger Interview | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Passenger's Statement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpts - Pilot Log | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Buckeye Performance Data | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Excerpt - Aircraft Logbook | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Flight Path and Accident Site Diagram | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4017L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Buckeye Aviation DREAM MACHINE 48 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Buckeye Aviation 74 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 582E 82 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,533 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA17FA144.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.