Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Sonora, California, October 1, 1991
On October 1, 1991 at about 7:05 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N860CD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sonora, California. 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
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO VAPOR LOCK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1991 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Sonora, California · 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
- N860CD · no longer on the register · serial 860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT THAT HE REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE WITH ABOUT 19 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DEPARTED COLUMBIA AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 10,000 FEET WHILE HE FLEW AROUND THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS. AT ABOUT 1200 HOURS, HE TURNED AND HEADED BACK TO COLUMBIA. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE AND THE REAR CYLINDER EGT INDICATED A POTENTIAL FUEL STARVATION PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT AND THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A MOUNTAIN MEADOW. HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE, EVEN AFTER THE THROTTLE WAS REDUCED TO IDLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO OVER SHOOT HIS INTENDED LANDING SPOT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT THE FAR END OF THE MEADOW. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP. HE SPECULATED THAT THE ENGINE POWER PROBLEM WAS DUE TO EITHER VAPOR LOCK OR A MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 48 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1990; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 022 Columbia CA at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.