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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 3, 1983 · Waspair Tomcat HM-81 · UNREG

Roseville, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 3, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Roseville, CA
Aircraft
Waspair Tomcat HM-81
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX83FU015

THE PLT HAD ONLY FLOWN 1 FLT SINCE HE HAD CRASHED THE SAME ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE NEARLY 1 YR PREVIOUSLY. AN EYE WITNESS, WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL ULTRALIGHT ASSOCIATION, HAD TEST FLOWN THE REPAIRED VEHICLE BEFORE THE PLT FLEW IT. THE PLT, THE EYE WITNESS & A 3RD PLT THEN FLEW THEIR RESPECTIVE VEHICLES TO THE JENKO AIRSTRIP & RETURNED SUCCESSFULLY. NOTING THAT THE WIND HAD INCREASED, THE EYE WITNESS DEPARTED ALONE TO TEST THE WX. HE STATED HE ENCOUNTERED THE WORST TURBULENCE HE HAD EVER FLOWN IN. BEFORE HE COULD TELL THE OTHERS NOT TO TAKEOFF, THEY HAD ELECTED TO DEPART. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE EYE WITNESS SAW THE ACCIDENT VEHICLE IN AN INVERTED DIVE TO THE RIGHT FROM APRX 600 FT AGL. HE REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO RECOVER AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL, BUT THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AGAIN & HIT THE GROUND. THE 3RD PLT SAID THE WIND WAS 'VERY SEVERE' & HE HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING HIS VEHICLE. THE PLT WAS WEARING HIS HELMET & HAD HIS SEAT BELT FASTENED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS.

Full Narrative

THE PLT HAD ONLY FLOWN 1 FLT SINCE HE HAD CRASHED THE SAME ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE NEARLY 1 YR PREVIOUSLY. AN EYE WITNESS, WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL ULTRALIGHT ASSOCIATION, HAD TEST FLOWN THE REPAIRED VEHICLE BEFORE THE PLT FLEW IT. THE PLT, THE EYE WITNESS & A 3RD PLT THEN FLEW THEIR RESPECTIVE VEHICLES TO THE JENKO AIRSTRIP & RETURNED SUCCESSFULLY. NOTING THAT THE WIND HAD INCREASED, THE EYE WITNESS DEPARTED ALONE TO TEST THE WX. HE STATED HE ENCOUNTERED THE WORST TURBULENCE HE HAD EVER FLOWN IN. BEFORE HE COULD TELL THE OTHERS NOT TO TAKEOFF, THEY HAD ELECTED TO DEPART. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE EYE WITNESS SAW THE ACCIDENT VEHICLE IN AN INVERTED DIVE TO THE RIGHT FROM APRX 600 FT AGL. HE REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO RECOVER AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL, BUT THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AGAIN & HIT THE GROUND. THE 3RD PLT SAID THE WIND WAS 'VERY SEVERE' & HE HAD A HARD TIME CONTROLLING HIS VEHICLE. THE PLT WAS WEARING HIS HELMET & HAD HIS SEAT BELT FASTENED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SHOULDER HARNESS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWaspair Tomcat HM-81
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryUltr
DamageSubstantial
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 52 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:57
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data