Smith MODEL B AVID FLYER accident near Atwater, California, June 18, 1988
On June 18, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Smith MODEL B AVID FLYER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N249SJ, was destroyed in an accident near Atwater, California (Atwater airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 18, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Atwater, California · Atwater · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith MODEL B AVID FLYER MODEL B AV, amateur-built
- Registration
- N249SJ · no longer on the register · serial 222
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL TEST FLIGHT, JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WENT TO IDLE. THE PILOT MADE AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE PILOT INSPECTED THE ENGINE FINDING NOTHING UNUSUAL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED ANOTHER TAKEOFF TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. JUST AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE PILOT MADE A LANDING PERPENDICULAR TO FRESHLY PLOWED ROWS OF SOFT DIRT. THE TAIL COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN FIRST AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
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: 192 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 153 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 112 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1988; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.