Johnson AVID FLYER MARK IV accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin, April 17, 1994
On April 17, 1994 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Johnson AVID FLYER MARK IV, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N312RJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin (New Richmond Municipal airport). 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
CARBURETOR ICE, AND THE OWNER/BUILDER'S INADEQUATE AIRPLANE/EQUIPMENT DESIGN, IN THAT THERE WAS NO CARBURETOR HEAT/CONTROL INSTALLED IN THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER (CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS), AND OBSTACLES (TREES) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA THAT PREVENTED THE PILOT FROM FLARING THE AIRCRAFT AT THE PROPER TIME.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1994 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Richmond, Wisconsin · New Richmond Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Johnson AVID FLYER MARK IV AVID FLYER, amateur-built
- Registration
- N312RJ · no longer on the register · serial 1131D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE STATED HE HAD TO CLEAR A ROW OF TREES BEFORE HE COULD REACH THE FIELD SELECTED FOR THE FORCED LANDING. HE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE HIT THE GROUND HARD, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE PLANE SKIDDED ACROSS THE FIELD. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE WAS REPORTED. THE PILOT BELIEVED THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 51 AND 32 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY; THESE WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE. THERE WAS NO CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL INSTALLED ON THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE.
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: 95 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 66 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNH at 2:28 pm
- Destination: RNH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from STP, 27 miles away
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.