Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Bonner'S Ferry, Idaho, August 28, 1985
On August 28, 1985 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N64LW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bonner'S Ferry, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1985 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bonner'S Ferry, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N64LW · no longer on the register · serial 137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG SEIZED AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 350 FT AGL OVER THE END OF THE RWY. HE STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS IN A MAXIMUM CLIMB WHEN THE ENG SEIZED & IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A POWER OFF STALL. HE RECOVERED FROM THE STALL, BUT THERE WERE TREES AHEAD. WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID THE OBSTACLES, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A SKID & THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT HAD A 2 CYLINDER, 2 CYCLE, 43 HP ENG THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH 2 CARBURETORS & A SINGLE IGNITION SYSTEM. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE FOR THE #1 CARBURETOR HAD BECOME LEAN WHICH ALLOWED THE #1 CYLINDER TO OVERHEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PISTON IN THE #1 CYLINDER SEIZED AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,802 hours in all; 16 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430RR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 65S at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:30 am
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.