Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

May 14, 1983 · Homebuilt · UNREG

Tracy, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 14, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Tracy, CA
Aircraft
Homebuilt
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX83FU003

THE PLT HAD BUILT THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE AT HOME BY USING THE PLANS OF A WEEDHOPPER. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD USED MATERIALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO OR STRONGER THAN THOSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED BY A WEEDHOPPER KIT. A FRIEND, WHO HAD FLOWN THE VEHICLE, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY WELL BUILT & HE ENJOYED FLYING IT. PRIOR TO THE FATAL FLT, THE OWNER HAD TAXIED THE ULTRALIGHT, BUT HAD NEVER FLOWN IT NOR ANY OTHER KNOWN ACFT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE REPORTLY SAID 'WELL, I HAD THIS PLANE FOR 6 MONTHS. TODAY, EITHER I AM GOING TO FLY IT OR SELL IT.' AFTER TAKING OFF, HE CLIMBED TO APRX 200 TO 300 FT & WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT TURN. AFTER ENTERING THE TURN, THE VEHICLE ENTERED A STEEP, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASHED. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENG POWER LOSS OR PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS EVIDENT.

Full Narrative

THE PLT HAD BUILT THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE AT HOME BY USING THE PLANS OF A WEEDHOPPER. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD USED MATERIALS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO OR STRONGER THAN THOSE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED BY A WEEDHOPPER KIT. A FRIEND, WHO HAD FLOWN THE VEHICLE, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY WELL BUILT & HE ENJOYED FLYING IT. PRIOR TO THE FATAL FLT, THE OWNER HAD TAXIED THE ULTRALIGHT, BUT HAD NEVER FLOWN IT NOR ANY OTHER KNOWN ACFT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE REPORTLY SAID 'WELL, I HAD THIS PLANE FOR 6 MONTHS. TODAY, EITHER I AM GOING TO FLY IT OR SELL IT.' AFTER TAKING OFF, HE CLIMBED TO APRX 200 TO 300 FT & WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A LEFT TURN. AFTER ENTERING THE TURN, THE VEHICLE ENTERED A STEEP, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASHED. NO EVIDENCE OF AN ENG POWER LOSS OR PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS EVIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:00 PDT
Nearest AirportTracy Municipal (0nm N)
Runway25
Runway Length3418 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHomebuilt
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryUltr
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 103
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCuyuna · 430R · Reciprocating · 40
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 31 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 8 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 45 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data