Amateur-built AVID/SPEEDWING accident near Sandwich, Illinois, April 22, 1990
On April 22, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID/SPEEDWING, registered N396DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandwich, Illinois (Woodlake Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A FUEL LINE BY THE P. LOT/MANUFACTURER WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF A FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Woodlake Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID/SPEEDWING AVID/SPEED
- Registration
- N396DZ · no longer on the register · serial 447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER-BUILT AIRPLANE HAD TAKEN OFF AND WAS CLIMBING ON RUNWAY HEADING WHEN THE PILOT STATES HE BEGAN TO LOSE ENGINE POWER AND SETTLE. THE PILOT MAINTAINED COURSE AND FLYING SPEED AS THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A 50 FOOT TREE TOP WHERE IT HUNG SUSPENDED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED FUEL IN THE TANK BUT ALL LINES DOWNSTREAM OF THE IN-LINE FUEL FILTER WERE DRY. THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE INLET TO THE FUEL FILTER. HOSE CLAMPS WERE MISSING AT CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM TANK THROUGH CARBURETOR.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 698 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 618 as pilot in command; 73 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1989; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,988 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.