Accident Avid Flyer Mk IV N6880L, Saturday 21 June 2008

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Date:	Saturday 21 June 2008
Time:	07:00 LT
Type:	Avid Flyer Mk IV
Owner/operator:	Kansas Museum Of Military History
Registration:	N6880L
MSN:	1115D
Total airframe hrs:	15 hours
Engine model:	Rotax 582
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Augusta, Kansas - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Augusta, KS (3AU)
Destination airport:	(3AU)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The engine started overheating. The pilot turned around to return to the airport. On approach at approximately 500 feet, the engine seized. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a field, but the airplane landed hard on the terrain, bending the landing gear. It then slid 80 feet and struck a fence. The pilot reported that the thermostat failed, causing the engine to overheat and seize.

Probable Cause: Failure of the engine cooling system's thermostat, causing the engine to overheat and seize. Contributing to the accident was the fence.

Accident investigation: