Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Spokane, Washington, April 10, 1986
On April 10, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N318M, was destroyed in an accident near Spokane, Washington (Felts Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 10, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Spokane, Washington · Felts Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AVID FLYER
- Registration
- N318M · registry record · serial 119-20239
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A FIVE-MILE FINAL, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. A LOOSE RIGHT MAGNETO CONTACTING THE FLYWHEEL MAGNET AND SHORTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FOUND. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MISS A RIVER IN THE APPROACH PATH TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEGREE TURN WHICH RESULTED IN AN APPROACH STALL. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS NO STALL WARNING AND GUSTY WINDS WERE PRESENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 361 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna RR-430 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.