Amateur-built AVID FLYER accident near Stanwood, Washington, April 20, 1989
On April 20, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built AVID FLYER, registered N4409D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanwood, Washington. 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
AN IGNITION LEAD BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM ONE CYLINDER, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: SOFT TERRAIN IN THE TOUCHDOWN AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stanwood, Washington · 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
- N4409D · no longer on the register · serial 13
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER FROM ONE OF THE CYLINDERS OF THE AIRCRAFT'S TWO CYLINDER ENGINE. WITH INSUFFICIENT POWER TO CONTINUE FLIGHT, THE PILOT TRIED TO LAND IN A SOD FIELD. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A PLOWED FIELD, SHORT OF THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG LEADS MAY HAVE BECOME DISCONNECTED.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 606 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 493 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 1988; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S88 Arlington WA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.