Amateur-built AVID FLYER MK-IV accident near Nikiski, Alaska, July 20, 1997
On July 20, 1997 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER MK-IV, registered N4356H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nikiski, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the sudden windshift, and the pilot's lack of seaplane certification.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1997 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nikiski, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER MK-IV AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N4356H · no longer on the register · serial 1093D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental seaplane was unable to maintain a climb sufficient to clear trees at the end of the lake when the headwind shifted to a gusty crosswind. The pilot intentionally landed hard onto the water to avoid trees which were located on the shoreline. The floats separated from the airplane at impact. The pilot did not hold a seaplane rating.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1997; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Parsons Lake AK at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from ENA, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.