Amateur-built Avid Heavy Hauler accident near Fitchburg, Massachusetts, May 27, 2004
On May 27, 2004 at about 6:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Avid Heavy Hauler, registered N5139W, was destroyed in an accident near Fitchburg, Massachusetts (Fitchburg Municipal Airport). 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 malfunction of the elevator control system, resulting in a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2004 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fitchburg, Massachusetts · Fitchburg Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Avid Heavy Hauler
- Registration
- N5139W · registry record · serial 704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climbout, the pilot began to experience problems with the elevator control. He elected to return to the airport; however, he could not control the descent rate. As the airplane neared the ground, the pilot realized that he would not be able to land on the runway, and performed a forced landing to a field. After touching down in the field, the airplane impacted a fence, and subsequently caught fire. Examination of the wreckage, after it was moved to a recovery facility, revealed that the airplane sustained extensive impact and fire damage. It was noted that the flight control tube, which was inserted into the elevator control linkage tube, was "floating," and not secured. Due to damage to the airframe, it could not determined if the tubing was secured prior to 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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Last flight review: July 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 288 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 2003; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,085 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FIT Fitchburg MA at 6:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,510 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from FIT
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.
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.