Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Palisade, Colorado, June 20, 1987
On June 20, 1987 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N186TF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palisade, Colorado. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1987 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Palisade, Colorado · 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
- Registration
- N186TF · no longer on the register · serial 204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST FINISHED SEVERAL SHORT FLIGHTS ON THE RECENTLY CERTIFIED HOMEBUILT ACFT TO FLY OFF THE HR RESTRICTION. HE HAD COMPLETED THE SHUTDOWN CHECKLIST AND HAD THE FUEL VALVE SHUT OFF. HE RESTARTED THE ENG WITHOUT THE CHECKLIST TO MAKE ANOTHER FLT AND TOOK OFF INADVERTENTLY LEAVING THE FUEL VALVE OFF. THE ACFT CLIMBED ABOUT 50 FT PRIOR TO FUEL STARVATION. THE ACFT LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND STRUCK TREES AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED THROUGH 'A CARELESS OVERSIGHT ON MY PART... THE USE OF THE CHECKLIST AND POSSIBLY A LESS HASTY DEPARTURE WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT.'
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: 103 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 69 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1987; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,200 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.