Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Houston, Texas, May 4, 1993
On May 4, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N567WH, was destroyed in an accident near Houston, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE POWER LOSS WITH CAUSE UNDETERMINED. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N567WH · no longer on the register · serial 564
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CLIMBING DEPARTURE AT APPROXIMATELY 350 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED. THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND REGAINED A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN FULL ENGINE POWER AND AT 250 FEET AGL, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN THE PLOWED FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POWER LOSS
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: 330 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1993; 2 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAP at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AAP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.