# Accident 19990718023049A: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Birchwood, AK, July 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 1999, 13:00 local time
- Place: Birchwood, AK
- Airport: Birchwood
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4161° N, 149.5083° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BIRCHWOOD (BCV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4161&lon=-149.5083&mi=10
- Aircraft: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AVIDFLYER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 45 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990718023049A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 18, 1999, ABOUT 1300 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, AN UNREGISTERED, EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT, AVID FLYER AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT, BIRCHWOOD, ALASKA.  THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT.  THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AS A LOCAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THE PILOT TOLD HIM THAT HE PLACED THE FUEL AND OIL MIXTURE IN THE AIRPLANE, AND THEN TOOK OFF FROM BIRCHWOOD.  HE INDICATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE "SEIZED."  DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN MUD FLATS, THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED A RUT, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN.  THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR MOUNTING STRUCTURE. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR, ANOTHER PILOT AT THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TOLD THE ACCIDENT PILOT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT LEGALLY AIRWORTHY AND SHOULD NOT BE FLOWN.  HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT RELIABLE DUE TO ITS AGE AND LACK OF USE.  THE WITNESS PILOT SAID THE ACCIDENT PILOT THEN PLACED FUEL IN  THE AIRPLANE AND TOOK OFF. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES HAD ELAPSED, THE WITNESS PILOT DECIDED TO LOOK FOR THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE AND FOUND IT IN THE MUD NEAR THE AIRPORT.                                                           (.4)ACCORDING TO AN FAA INSPECTOR, THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER PILOT AT THE AIRPORT THE AIRPLANE SHOULD NOT BE FLOWN.  HE WAS ALSO TOLD HE SHOULD RECEIVE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FLYING IT.  THE PILOT WAS THEN OBSERVED PLACING FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE AND TAKING OFF.  ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO INTERVIEWED THE PILOT AT HIS HOME, THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE 'SEIZED.'  THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING IN MUD FLATS.  THE FAA INSPECTOR SAID THE PROPELLER COULD BE TURNED BY HAND, AND THE ENGINE FELT NORMAL.                                                        (-23) STUDENT PILOT OPERATED AND CRASHED HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. NO REGISTRATION, NO A/W CERTIFICATE. NO PILOT CERTIFICATE OR ENDORSEMENTS.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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