Wings An Things INC AVID FLYER accident near Bluffton, Indiana, August 3, 2016
On August 3, 2016, a 1984 Wings An Things INC AVID FLYER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N430WT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Bluffton, Indiana (Miller Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of roll control during climb for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2016
- Place
- Bluffton, Indiana · Miller Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wings An Things INC AVID FLYER, built 1984, amateur-built
- Registration
- N430WT · no longer on the register · serial 145
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was operating a personal, local flight in the nonregistered, experimental amateur-built airplane with one passenger onboard. The student stated that, while the airplane was climbing through 500 ft above ground level after takeoff, there was an uncommanded left roll. He reported that the airspeed was 60 knots (which is above the stall speed of 40 mph listed in the airplane's specifications). He applied right control input to the control stick, which did not counter the left roll. The airplane entered a left spiral descent, and the pilot pulled back on the control stick and applied right rudder until the airplane impacted terrain. He reported that the airplane's engine was at full throttle during the flight and that it did not experience a loss of engine power. A postaccident examination of the airframe, including the flight controls, revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The investigation could not determine the reason for the loss of roll control.
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 initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Scheduled maint checks › Not inspected
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Student/instructed pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 46 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 32 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 249.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 23, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier 532 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C40 Bluffton IN at 11:45 pm
- Destination: C40 Bluffton IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 31, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email from Witness | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot Logbook | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Aircraft Conditional Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Aircraft Registration Information | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Aircraft Information | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Log | PDF, 18 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.