Amateur-built Avid Flyer accident near Sequim, Washington, August 10, 2007
On August 10, 2007 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Avid Flyer, registered N5MN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sequim, Washington (Sequim Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to a dual ignition system failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2007 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sequim, Washington · Sequim Valley Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Avid Flyer
- Registration
- N5MN · no longer on the register · serial 608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to perform practice maneuvers in a local training area. Witnesses saw the airplane fly low over the residence of the pilot's girlfriend while performing a series of 360-degree turns around the house. On the second turn, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot said he attempted to restart the engine by performing the emergency procedures, but he was unsuccessful. As the airplane descended to 15 feet above ground level (agl), it collided with a guy wire. Following the accident, an examination of the engine was performed by a local electrical engineer. He stated that he inspected the electrical system of the engine and found it to be non-operational because of a failure of the ignition coil that supplies electrical energy to each ignition system.
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: student
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 327 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,085 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 Blue Head (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W28 Sequim WA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: W28 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from CLM, 13 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.