# NTSB SEA94LA241: Oestreich Avid Flyer MK IV, N1280D, Moses Lake, WA, September 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1994, 16:27 local (23:27 UTC)
- Place: Moses Lake, WA
- Coordinates: 47.190853, -119.29943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1909&lon=-119.2994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42025
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA241
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42025/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA241

## Probable cause

PROPER DESCENT RATE WAS EXCEEDED. LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OPERATION WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A WATER LANDING, THE AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A HIGH SINK RATE. THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT WAS NOT RATED FOR SEAPLANE OPERATIONS AND EXCEPT FOR TWENTY HOURS HE HAD RECENTLY ACCUMULATED IN THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR THREE YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1994, at 1627, an amphibian Oestreich Avid Flyer Mk IV, N1280D, landed hard and nosed over during the water landing on Moses Lake, Moses Lake, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured.  The flight had departed from Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, on September 18, 1994, at 1600, for the personal flight to the pilot's residence on the lake.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that while on final approach to the lake, the airplane experienced a high sink rate and landed hard on the water.  The right float collapsed and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, reported that a total time of 20 hours had been accumulated in the airplane since its completion.  The pilot holds a private pilot certificate for single engine land airplanes and is not rated for seaplane operations.  The pilot also reported that except for the 20 hours that were recently accumulated in the Avid Flyer, he had not flown for approximately three years prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1280D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1280D-2021-12-04), registration cancelled 2021-12-04, S/N 1280D (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: OESTREICH AVID FLYER MK IV (AVID FLYER)
- Registry model: [Oestreich Gerald M AVID FLYER MK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/oestreich-gerald-m-avid-flyer-mk-iv) (registry code 05623Z5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1280D
- Airframe hours: 20
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Oestreich, Gerald M.
- Registered owner: Oestreich, Gerald M.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: MWH, WA
- Destination: WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 20 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MWH, 5 nm away

## 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 19940918048799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918048799A), Sep 18, 1994: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Moses Lake, WA, Substantial damage. Ampibious homebuilt nosed over on water landing. Reported high sink rate unchecked. Impact collapsed right float.

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.

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