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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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August 23, 1983 · Airmass Sunburst · UNREG

Carthage, MO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 23, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Carthage, MO
Aircraft
Airmass Sunburst
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC83FU005

AFTER MAKING SEVERAL TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS, THE PLT CIRCLED THE ARPT, THEN DEPARTED IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FLYING TOWARD A STORM THAT WAS APPROACHING FROM THE NORTH. HE ESTIMATED THE ULTRALIGHT WAS AT APRX 300 FT AGL WHEN IT TURNED ABOUT 30 DEG LEFT, THEN THE RIGHT WING FOLDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IMPACTED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. WITNESSES THAT WERE NEARBY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST, JUST PRIOR TO THE OCCURRENCE, THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS SHIFTED TO THE NORTHEAST & WERE VERY STRONG, REPORTEDLY GUSTING TO 40 KTS. STRONG STORM CELLS WITH TOPS TO 50,000 FT WERE REPORTED WITHIN 22 MI. SEVERAL FLYING & LANDING WIRES WERE FOUND BROKEN.

Full Narrative

AFTER MAKING SEVERAL TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS, THE PLT CIRCLED THE ARPT, THEN DEPARTED IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FLYING TOWARD A STORM THAT WAS APPROACHING FROM THE NORTH. HE ESTIMATED THE ULTRALIGHT WAS AT APRX 300 FT AGL WHEN IT TURNED ABOUT 30 DEG LEFT, THEN THE RIGHT WING FOLDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IMPACTED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. WITNESSES THAT WERE NEARBY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST, JUST PRIOR TO THE OCCURRENCE, THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS SHIFTED TO THE NORTHEAST & WERE VERY STRONG, REPORTEDLY GUSTING TO 40 KTS. STRONG STORM CELLS WITH TOPS TO 50,000 FT WERE REPORTED WITHIN 22 MI. SEVERAL FLYING & LANDING WIRES WERE FOUND BROKEN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAirmass Sunburst
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryUltr
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 103
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCuyuna · 430R · Reciprocating · 30
Seats1

People & Injuries

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

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind45° @ 30 kt, gusting 40 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 7000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data