Amateur-built AVID FLYER MARK IV accident near West Alton, Missouri, May 1, 1999
On May 1, 1999 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER MARK IV, registered N313N, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Alton, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the connecting rod bearing, and the rough/uneven terrain condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1999 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Alton, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER MARK IV AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N313N · registry record · serial 12350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine experienced an uncommanded loss of power from 6,000 rpm to 5,400 rpm over a period of 4-seconds. The pilot reported that he established the airplane on best glide speed and prepared for an off-field landing while the engine experienced a constant depletion of power, finally loosing all power after a period of approximately 30 seconds. The pilot stated that he executed a forced landing into a farm field that had, 'modest furrows'. Substantial damage to the airplane was sustained during the landing. External visual inspection of the engine revealed a hole in the lower engine case on the Power Takeoff (PTO) cylinder side. Internal examination of the engine revealed metal deposits on the PTO cylinder dome, cylinder wall, and piston head. Examination of the PTO connecting rod revealed that the connecting-rod bearing had failed.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,421 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,155 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1H0 Creve Coeur MO at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from SET, 60 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.