ANC96LA100

NTSB accident investigation · Horton Avid Flyer MK IV · Tenakee Springs, AK · July 17, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 17, 1996, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Tenakee Springs, AK
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3XPHorton Avid Flyer MK IV
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 18, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
FAA report
19960717017949A
Case key
2859

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Gusty winds were a factor in the accident.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water encounter with weatherLanding - roll
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Nose overLanding - roll
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot was landing on a remote lake in a float-equipped homebuilt airplane toward the east in calm wind conditions. After touchdown, the pilot retracted the flaperons, slowed to about 20 miles per hour, and was settling off the float step. A gust of wind struck the left side of the airplane and tilted the right wing down. The right wingtip contacted the water and the airplane rolled up onto the front of the right float assembly. The airplane then nosed over.

Factual narrative

On July 17, 1996, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped 1993 David Horton, Avid Flyer Mark IV, N3XP, crashed during landing on Pavlof Lake, about 9 miles northeast of Tenakee Springs, Alaska. The homebuilt airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot reported that he was landing toward the east in calm wind conditions. After touch down, the pilot retracted the flaperons, slowed to about 20 miles per hour, and was settling off the float step. A gust of wind struck the left side of the airplane and tilted the right wing down. The right wing tip contacted the water and the airplane rolled up onto the front of the right float assembly. The airplane then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the right wing tip and ribs.

Aircraft

Registration
N3XP
Reported as
Horton Avid Flyer MK IV (AVID FLYER)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1309D
Airframe hours
101
Engine
Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
David A. Horton Jr.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · December 15, 1995 · 101 hours before
Departed
Auke Lake, AK
Flight plan
VFR

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
51
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
247 total · 124 in this make and model · 247 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 7 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.