Avid MARK IV accident near Payette, Idaho, October 13, 2021
On October 13, 2021 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Avid MARK IV, registered N583DM, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Payette, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an outlet screen on the fuel system header tank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2021 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Payette, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avid MARK IV
- Registration
- N583DM · registry record · serial 1582D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was conducting a local flight in an experimental airplane and during cruise flight about 1,000 ft above ground level, the engine began to intermittently lose power. He activated the fuel pump and shortly thereafter the engine shut down. The pilot maneuvered the airplane to land in a cultivated field. The airplane was substantially damaged when it nosed over during the landing roll. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane’s header tank did not have an outlet screen installed and the fuel selector valve contained a large quantity of debris. It is likely the debris, from the fuel tank construction and/or repairs, entered the fuel selector valve from the header tank, resulting in fuel starvation to the engine and the subsequent loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel contamination during maneuvering
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Fuel starvation during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Inoperative
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel filter › strainer › Not installed/available
Pilot
- Flight time: 4 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 472 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 13, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,151 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA81 (piston); 472 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KNON Ontario OR at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from KONO, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KONO 131553Z AUTO 16003KT 10SM FEW050 BKN070 OVC080 06/M04 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP182 T00611044
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on August 15, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Logbook Excerpts (Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Email-faa on Pilot Hours | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Email-faa Examination Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Memorandum-pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array-faa | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.