Amateur-built Avid Amphibian accident near Buchanan, Michigan, September 10, 2005
On September 10, 2005 at about 1:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Avid Amphibian, registered N54BX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buchanan, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. A factor was the power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2005 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Buchanan, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Avid Amphibian
- Registration
- N54BX · no longer on the register · serial 54A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a power line and terrain during a forced landing after a loss of power following a water takeoff. The pilot reported that he performed a complete preflight and that the engine was running "extremely well." The tachometer was reading 6,500 RPM and all temperatures were in the normal range during climbout. He did a crosswind turn at 300 feet above ground level to stay in the pattern for another water landing. He reported that 10 seconds after the turn, the engine stopped. The pilot reported that there was no indication of any engine problem before the engine stopped. He reported, "It acted as though the ignition switch was turned off." The on-site inspection of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3TR Niles MI at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.