Amateur-built AVID BANDIT accident near Washington, Pennsylvania, March 11, 2014
On March 11, 2014 at about 6:08 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built AVID BANDIT, registered N62PT, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Washington, Pennsylvania (Washington County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed and angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control in gusty and turbulent wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 2014 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Washington, Pennsylvania · Washington County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID BANDIT, built 1998
- Registration
- N62PT · no longer on the register · serial 1509E
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane had completed three takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern before the accident. One witness stated that, after turning to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane entered an estimated 90-degree left bank and spiraled nose down toward the ground. Another witness reported hearing the airplane and, when she looked up, the airplane was "wobbling" back and forth before it made a descending left turn toward the ground. A review of the weather conditions on the day and time of the accident revealed gusting winds with turbulence mixing to the surface. Postcrash examination of the airplane, engine, and systems revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The bank and nose-down attitude after the turn are consistent with the pilot failing to maintain airspeed and angle of attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall from which he was unable to recover at low altitude.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 243.6 hours in all; 36 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 398.4 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 12, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AFJ Washington PA
- Destination: AFJ Washington PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from AFJ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N62PT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.