- Date
- April 9, 2026, 15:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N394BJAvid Avid Flyer
- Defining event
- Taxi-into takeoff position: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20260409003329A
- Case key
- 202791
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering onto the runway for takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the presence of heavy, wet snow adjacent to the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while maneuvering onto the runway for takeoff in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the application of engine power during the turn resulted in the airplane overshooting the runway centerline. The pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to regain alignment; however, directional control was not maintained, and the airplane departed the runway surface. The main landing gear subsequently contacted an area of heavy, wet snow adjacent to the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The nose-over resulted in substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N394BJ
- Reported as
- Avid Avid Flyer (Heavy Hauler)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 359
- Built
- 2013
- Airframe hours
- 841
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · December 2, 2025 · 11 hours before
- Airport
- BCV · Birchwood Airport, runway 20R, 4,012 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 22, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 263 total · 140 in this make and model · 210 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- PABV
- METAR
- PABV 092256Z AUTO 27004KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP225 T00671017 $
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.