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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.

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June 28, 1983 · Pterodactyl Ascender II Ascender I · UNREG

Sumner, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 28, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Sumner, WA
Aircraft
Pterodactyl Ascender II Ascender I
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA83FU005

REPORTEDLY, A FATHER & HIS 14 YR OLD SON HAD BEEN RECEIVING GROUND & TAXI INSTRUCTION, AND HAD RECEIVED 'CROW-HOP' PRACTICE IN THE PREVIOUS FEW WEEKS. ON 6/27/83, THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE WITH THE SON ON BOARD. HE FLEW IT IN A PATTERN AROUND THE OPEN FIELD THAT WAS BEING USED BY ULTRALIGHT PLTS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND BY APPROACHING OVER TREES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, BUT OVERSHOT THE 500 FT LANDING AREA. DURING A GO-AROUND, HE STRUCK GROUND VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD, BUT CONTINUED TO FLY. ON THE 2ND APPROACH, THE ULTRALIGHT CAME OVER TREES AT THE SOUTH END & EXECUTED A SERIES OF STAIR-STEP MANEUVERS ON THE APPROACH. AT APRX 60 FT AGL, THE VEHICLE NOSED OVER & STRUCK THE GROUND IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE FLT WAS INTENTIONAL.

Full Narrative

REPORTEDLY, A FATHER & HIS 14 YR OLD SON HAD BEEN RECEIVING GROUND & TAXI INSTRUCTION, AND HAD RECEIVED 'CROW-HOP' PRACTICE IN THE PREVIOUS FEW WEEKS. ON 6/27/83, THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE WITH THE SON ON BOARD. HE FLEW IT IN A PATTERN AROUND THE OPEN FIELD THAT WAS BEING USED BY ULTRALIGHT PLTS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND BY APPROACHING OVER TREES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH, BUT OVERSHOT THE 500 FT LANDING AREA. DURING A GO-AROUND, HE STRUCK GROUND VEHICLES IN A PARKING LOT AT THE NORTH END OF THE FIELD, BUT CONTINUED TO FLY. ON THE 2ND APPROACH, THE ULTRALIGHT CAME OVER TREES AT THE SOUTH END & EXECUTED A SERIES OF STAIR-STEP MANEUVERS ON THE APPROACH. AT APRX 60 FT AGL, THE VEHICLE NOSED OVER & STRUCK THE GROUND IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE FLT WAS INTENTIONAL.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Runway Length500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPterodactyl Ascender II Ascender I
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryUltr
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 103
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCuyuna · 430-R · Reciprocating · 30
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 14 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data