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

July 10, 1983 · Pterodactyl Ascender · UNREG

Jacksonville, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 10, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Aircraft
Pterodactyl Ascender
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA83FU005

THE PLTS OF 2 HIGH WING, PTERODACTYL ASCENDER, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES TOOK OFF & WERE OPERATING IN A DESIGNATED AREA FOR ULTRALIGHTS. ONE PLT (PLT-A) WAS MAKING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS WHILE THE OTHER PLT (PLT-B) WAS MANEUVERING IN THE VECINITY. AFTER PLT-A MADE A TOUCH & GO, PLT-B TURNED TO PARALLEL HIS COURSE. REPORTEDLY, THIS PUT PLT-B HIGH, BEHIND & TO THE RIGHT OF PLT-A, WHO WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHBOUND HEADING. PLT-B SAID THAT HE THOUGHT PLT-A HAD SEEN HIM AS THEY CONTINUED ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE. REPORTEDLY, PLT-A DID NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS HIGH/BEHIND HIM. PLT-A REPORTED THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO APRX 100 TO 150 FT, HE TURNED WESTBOUND IN THE PATTERN & THE OTHER ULTRALIHGT WAS STILL IN THE BLIND SPOT OF THE HIGH WING VEHICLE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. DURING IMPACT, THE FLYING WIRE FOR THE LEFT WING OF PLT-A'S VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF PLT-B'S VEHICLE. PLT-A'S ULTRALIGHT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN & CRASHED. PLT-B LANDED WITH A BROKEN RIGHT MAIN WHEEL & A BROKEN STRENGTHENING WIRE.

Full Narrative

THE PLTS OF 2 HIGH WING, PTERODACTYL ASCENDER, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES TOOK OFF & WERE OPERATING IN A DESIGNATED AREA FOR ULTRALIGHTS. ONE PLT (PLT-A) WAS MAKING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS WHILE THE OTHER PLT (PLT-B) WAS MANEUVERING IN THE VECINITY. AFTER PLT-A MADE A TOUCH & GO, PLT-B TURNED TO PARALLEL HIS COURSE. REPORTEDLY, THIS PUT PLT-B HIGH, BEHIND & TO THE RIGHT OF PLT-A, WHO WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHBOUND HEADING. PLT-B SAID THAT HE THOUGHT PLT-A HAD SEEN HIM AS THEY CONTINUED ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE. REPORTEDLY, PLT-A DID NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS HIGH/BEHIND HIM. PLT-A REPORTED THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO APRX 100 TO 150 FT, HE TURNED WESTBOUND IN THE PATTERN & THE OTHER ULTRALIHGT WAS STILL IN THE BLIND SPOT OF THE HIGH WING VEHICLE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. DURING IMPACT, THE FLYING WIRE FOR THE LEFT WING OF PLT-A'S VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF PLT-B'S VEHICLE. PLT-A'S ULTRALIGHT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN & CRASHED. PLT-B LANDED WITH A BROKEN RIGHT MAIN WHEEL & A BROKEN STRENGTHENING WIRE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest AirportHERLONG (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPterodactyl Ascender
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryUltr
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 103
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsUnknown · NR · Reciprocating | Unknown · NR · Reciprocating
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · Unknown
Crew 2Age 48 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind140° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data