Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Wasco, California, April 5, 1993
On April 5, 1993 at about 3:15 am local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N827H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasco, 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
CARBURETOR ICING. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LACK OF A CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1993 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Wasco, 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
- N827H · no longer on the register · serial 827
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING IN A FRESHLY PLOWED FIELD, BUT NOSED OVER IN THE SOFT SOIL. THE PILOT STATED THAT ALL HE COULD THINK OF IS CARB ICING. HE STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING FAST, WITH AIR TEMPERATURE AT 66 DEGREES F (FAHRENHEIT), DEW POINT 38 DEGREES F. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, THE FLIGHT CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT THE PROBABILITY FOR CARBURETOR ICING WAS HIGH DURING CRUISE AND GLIDING FLIGHT.
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: 119 hours in all; 58 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIT Shafter CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: L45 Bakersfield CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 37°F (3°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.
Other NTSB records under N827H 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.