Amateur-built AVID FLYER HH accident near Stoneville, South Dakota, July 13, 1996
On July 13, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER HH, registered N399S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stoneville, South Dakota. 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
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: rough/uneven terrain in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stoneville, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER HH AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N399S · no longer on the register · serial 720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the engine lost power without warning. He made a forced landing in a 'rugged' hay field. Also, he said the landing was hard, which resulted in the damage to the airplane. The pilot said he had no knowledge of why the engine lost power. An FAA inspector examined the airplane; he said there was fuel present after the accident and that he could find no reason for the engine not to operate.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 1996; 2 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-8100 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Rapid City SD at 1:30 pm
- Destination: D07 Faith SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.