Buckeye DREAM MACHINE N3561F

Summary

On 4 June 2011 at about 19:46 local time, a Buckeye DREAM MACHINE registered N3561F, operated by Cattrell Jefferson Bushfield, was involved in an accident near Russellville, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 June 2011 at 19:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Russellville, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

36.2568, -83.1951

Aircraft

Buckeye DREAM MACHINE

Registration

N3561F

Engines

1

Operator

Cattrell Jefferson Bushfield

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morristown → Morristown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA326

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to switch fuel tanks when the fuel was exhausted, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The powered parachute collided with and remained suspended in trees. After responding, police officers and the pilot's son spoke to the pilot for about two to three minutes before the aircraft broke out of the treetops and fell to the ground. During the brief conversation between the pilot, his son, and the officers, the purpose of the flight and the circumstances of the collision with trees were not discussed. According to his son, the pilot reported, “The darn thing just quit.” The pilot subsequently died from his injuries and was not interviewed. Examination of the airframe at the scene revealed substantial damage to the airframe tubing and an estimated 5 gallons of fuel remaining in the 8-gallon fuel tank. Further examination revealed that the pilot had installed an auxiliary fuel line and shutoff valve, which was open, that connected to a 5-gallon gas can in the back seat; the gas can was empty. After the airframe examination, the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. According to the son of the pilot/owner, his father likely exhausted the fuel supply in the auxiliary fuel can, which starved the engine, and resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.