# NTSB SEA93LA008: James R. Prideaux Avid Flyer, N81AF, Mt. Home, ID, October 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 11, 1992, 17:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Mt. Home, ID
- Coordinates: 43.04906, -115.859504 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0491&lon=-115.8595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42952
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42952/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA008

## Probable cause

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: A TAIL WIND.

## Analysis

AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN AIR SHOW, THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEARED FOR RELEASE BY THE AIR SHOW COORDINATOR.  THE COORDINATOR WAS TOLD BY ATC THAT RUNWAY 12 WAS THE ACTIVE. THE PILOT STATED TO THE AIR SHOW COORDINATOR THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE OFF ON THIS RUNWAY, AS THE WINDS FAVORED RUNWAY 30, AND THAT HIS AIRPLANE COULD NOT HANDLE A TAIL WIND COMPONENT ON TAKE OFF. AFTER CALLS WERE MADE TO AIR TRAFFIC PERSONNEL ABOUT THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, THE PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT RUNWAY 12 WAS STILL ACTIVE AND HE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 12. DURING THE TAKE-OFF GROUND RUN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT WING THEN CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 230 DEGREES AT SIX KNOTS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ground

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81AF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81AF-1992-12-23), registration cancelled 1992-12-23, S/N 81 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JAMES R. PRIDEAUX AVID FLYER
- Registry model: [Prideaux James R AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/prideaux-james-r-avid-flyer) (registry code 056168X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 81
- Airframe hours: 250
- Engines: ROTAX 582/UL 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James R. Prideaux
- Registered owner: James R. Prideaux
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1992, 5 hours before
- Departed: MUO
- Destination: U35, CALDWELL, ID
- Airport: MUO, Mt. Home Afb, runway 12, 13,500 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 335 total, 230 in this make and model, 290 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19921011041479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19921011041479A), Oct 11, 1992: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Mountain Home, ID, Substantial damage. Lost control departing with quartering tail wind. Veered off runway. Reported request runway 31. Not on transcript.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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