Avid Aircraft Mk-4 accident near Salisbury, North Carolina, August 9, 2001
On August 9, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Avid Aircraft Mk-4, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N567SM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salisbury, North Carolina (Rowan County 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
, An aileron control system failure during climb due to an improper welded installation by the aircraft homebuilder, resulting in an inflight loss of lateral control, and an inflight collision with the terrain during an uncontrolled descent and landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Salisbury, North Carolina · Rowan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avid Aircraft Mk-4, amateur-built
- Registration
- N567SM · no longer on the register · serial 1401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after performing suitable taxi testing and a low level air taxi over the runway, he determined the newly finished home built was ready for flight. On climb out while performing a left turn to remain in the landing pattern, the pilot lost all aileron response, and elected to attempt an off airport landing using pitch, rudder, and power control. The landing to a vacant field caused substantial damage to the aircraft and fractured the pilot's ankle. FAA examination of the wreckage revealed failure of the push-pull rod for the aileron control at the aft bell crank connection due to a faulty weld. The threaded rod-end appeared to have separated where it was welded into the hallow tube coming from the control yoke assembly.
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: 330 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 330 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2001; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RUQ, 1 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.