# NTSB CHI05CA025: Jabat Avid Flyer, N90JW, Cleveland, MO, November 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 6, 2004, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, MO - Coordinates: 38.707778, -94.584167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7078&lon=-94.5842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Kansas City, MO FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA025 ## Probable cause The separation of the wing skin from the wing structure and the pilot's subsequent inablility to maintain aircraft control. A factor associated with the accident was the tree that the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - wing,skin - separation (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The homebuilt airplane collided with trees while making an off airport forced landing. The pilot reported that a malfunction occurred on the right wing while he was flying at 1,000 feet above mean sea level. He stated the airplane entered a right descending spiral. The airplane descended into a field about 2 miles away from his departure airstrip. The pilot stated the airplane contacted the ground then slid into trees, damaging the right wing. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed the fabric on the right wing had separated from the ribs. No other failures/malfunctions with the wing were noted. The pilot reported the fabric is glued to 1-inch rib caps in the wings. He also reported that it appeared as if the fabric had pulled away from the caps. The airplane was constructed in 1985 and it had been flown about 300 hours prior to the accident. The pilot reported the last annual inspection of the airplane was in April, 2004, and the airplane had been flown 4 hours since that inspection. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2004, at 1145 central standard time, a homebuilt Jabat, Inc., Avid Flyer, N90JW, collided with trees while making an off airport forced landing in Cleveland, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Cleveland, Missouri, at 1105. The pilot reported that a malfunction occurred on the right wing while he was flying at 1,000 feet above mean sea level. He stated the airplane entered a right descending spiral. The airplane descended into a field about 2 miles away from his departure airstrip. The pilot stated the airplane contacted the ground then slid into trees, damaging the right wing. A post accident examination of the airplane was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in Kansas City, Missouri. The inspector reported that it appeared as if the fabric on the right wing had separated from the ribs. No other failures/malfunctions with the wing were noted. The pilot reported the fabric is glued to 1-inch rib caps in the wings. He also reported that it appeared as if the fabric had pulled away from the caps. The airplane was constructed in 1985 and it had been flown about 300 hours prior to the accident. The pilot reported the last annual inspection of the airplane was in April, 2004, and the airplane had been flown 4 hours since that inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90JW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90JW), registered now, S/N 0110, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jabat, Inc. Avid Flyer - Registry model: [Jabat AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabat-avid-flyer) (registry code 05613KP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 110 - Engines: Rotax 532 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John J. Wackly - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, Cleveland, MO - Destination: PVT, Cleveland, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 698 total, 310 in this make and model, 523 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: OJC ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20041106028389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041106028389A), Nov 6, 2004: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Cleveland, MO, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated that he was flying at approximately 1000 ft. AGL when he heard a noise, and lost control of the airplane. He said that he could not keep the… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.