Amateur-built AVID AMPHIBIAN accident near Waterville, Minnesota, August 2, 2014
On August 2, 2014 at about 7:51 pm local time, a 1994 amateur-built AVID AMPHIBIAN, registered N4118X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Waterville, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after an inadvertent takeoff, which resulted in collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2014 · about 7:51 pm local time
- Place
- Waterville, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID AMPHIBIAN NO SERIES, built 1994
- Registration
- N4118X · registry record · serial 117A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot reported that he was testing the amphibious airplane's engine and cooling system while maneuvering the airplane on a nearby lake. He added that he had "no intent to fly." The pilot completed a number of passes across the lake. Before the last pass, he input full flaps, which resulted in the airplane inadvertently becoming airborne and climbing to about 100 ft. The pilot attempted to steer away from trees, but he lost control of the airplane, which then impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 344 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,199 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 344 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waterville MN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Waterville MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KACQ, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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 CEN14LA411.