Amateur-built AVID FLYER 502 accident near O'Brien, Florida, August 8, 1991
On August 8, 1991 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER 502, registered N15DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near O'Brien, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PLANNED FINAL APPROACH, WHICH RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH AN ELECTRICAL SERVICE LINE, AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1991 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- O'Brien, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER 502 AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N15DW · no longer on the register · serial 502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS LANDING AT AN ULTRALIGHT LANDING AREA WITH A KNOWN OBSTACLE (ELECTRICAL SERVICE LINE). THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE LINE AND THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW OR A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 130 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532-LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 am from GNV, 20 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.