Smith AVID STOL HAULER accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California, July 8, 1999
On July 8, 1999 at about 3:00 am local time, a Smith AVID STOL HAULER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N790GS, was destroyed in an accident near S. Lake Tahoe, California (South Lake Tahoe airport). 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1999 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- S. Lake Tahoe, California · South Lake Tahoe
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith AVID STOL HAULER AVID STOL, amateur-built
- Registration
- N790GS · no longer on the register · serial 790
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot was returning to the airport to land, a loss of engine power was experienced. An unsuccessful attempt was made to restart the engine, and an off-field landing was made. The pilot said that he was slow during the turn from base to final and the airplane entered a high descent rate, which culminated in a hard touchdown. No discrepancies were noted with the instruments during the flight by the pilot. An inspection of the maintenance records revealed that the airplane had not flown since 1996. In 1997, the airplane had been destroyed in a hangar roof cave-in, and rebuilt. It was noted that the airplane had not received a Condition Inspection since the Special Airworthiness Certificate and Operating Limitations were issued on September 14, 1995. The engine manufacturer recommends an engine inspection after 12 months of non-usage, and no such inspection was accomplished. Examination of the airplane revealed fuel in the tanks and sufficient electrical energy in the battery to run the electronic ignition. The fuel pump activated when placed in the ON position. No mechanical malfunctions were found during a teardown of the engine.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 529 hours in all; 76 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 11, 1999; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,105 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL DCD1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVL at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 am from TVL, 3 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.