N4829W

Substantial
Serious

Avid AVID MARK IVS/N: 1541-D

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
NTSB Number
GAA19CA475
Location
Thompson Falls, MT
Event ID
20190731X25413
Coordinates
47.776668, -115.476112
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
2
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's failure to go-around after a hard, bounced landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a collision with trees at the departure end of the runway.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N4829W
Make
AVID
Serial Number
1541-D
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1996
Model / ICAO
AVID MARK IVAVAM
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
WILLIAMS JIM W
Address
920 BLUE SLIDE RD
Status
Deregistered
City
THOMPSON FALLS
State / Zip Code
MT 59873-9464
Country
United States

Analysis

The student pilot reported that, during landing on a private grass airstrip, the airplane bounced so he added power to stabilize the airplane before continuing the landing. However, they "began to run out of runway," so he added full power and the flight instructor took control of the airplane. The airplane struck the top of some trees and the right wing hit another tree.

The instructor reported that he believed the airplane's throttle was improperly rigged, explaining that if you released the throttle, it would spring to full open.

The instructor added that during landing the airplane bounced, the student "went wide open throttle," and the airplane stabilized about 15 feet above the ground. He assumed that the student was performing a go around, although they had not previously discussed the procedure. The airplane continued toward the end of the airstrip, but the student did not perform a go around or land. The instructor took control of the airplane and initiated a go-around, but the airplane impacted trees beyond the end of the runway.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The instructor recommended more practice at a conventional airport prior to practice at the private airstrip with restricted maneuvering space.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA475