Amateur-built AVID AIRCRAFT accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, October 22, 2023
On October 22, 2023 at about 1:35 pm local time, a 1996 amateur-built AVID AIRCRAFT, registered N246ML, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Knoxville, Tennessee (Sky Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to a seized piston in the power take-off cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2023 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Sky Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID AIRCRAFT, built 1996
- Registration
- N246ML · registry record · serial 1186-D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had completed a preflight inspection and engine run-up with no anomalies noted. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb when the airplane was about 400 ft above the ground level (agl), the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot elected to land straight ahead on a riverbank. During the landing, the airplane struck trees and a metal fence before coming to rest in the river, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s two-stroke engine was conducted by the pilot. The pilot reported that the piston in the power take-off cylinder (PTO) had seized.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 232 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 232 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 177 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 27, 2023; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 180 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN98 Knoxville TN at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from TYS, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTYS 221453Z 35007KT 10SM CLR 17/06 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP162 T01670056 51018=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA018.