Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Bakersfield, California, October 15, 1994
On October 15, 1994 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N827H, was destroyed in an accident near Bakersfield, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadequate maintenance on the engine's liquid cooling system fittings and lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1994 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N827H · no longer on the register · serial 827
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE INSTRUMENTS WHICH MONITOR THE ENGINES LIQUID COOLING SYSTEM BEGAN TO SHOW A RISE IN TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE. THE PILOT RECALLED THAT THE TEMPERATURE REACHED THE UPPER RED LINE LIMIT AND HE DID NOT FEEL THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REDUCED THROTTLE AND SET UP FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED BEYOND A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND ROLLED ABOUT 300 FEET BEFORE AN UNSEEN GULLY WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE FAR SIDE OF THE GULLY. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY RESPONDING FAA INSPECTORS. THE ENGINE WATER PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LOOSE FITTING IN THE TOP OF THE PUMP. THE VENT LINE AND FITTING COULD BE TURNED BY SINGLE FINGER PRESSURE. THE WORM DRIVE HOSE CLAMP ON THE VENT LINE EXHIBITED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AND THE WATER PUMP SHOWED A TRAIL OF DIRT, DUST, AND RUST MIXED WITH ANTI-FREEZE FROM THE TOP OF THE PUMP IN THE AREA OF THE VENT LINE FITTING.
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: 220 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1994
- 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 4:30 pm
- Destination: MIT CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BFL, 8 miles away
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.
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.