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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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September 11, 1983 · Airmass Sunburst · UNREG

Goddard, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 11, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Goddard, KS
Aircraft
Airmass Sunburst
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC83FU007

THE PLT LANDED IN A VACANT FIELD, APRX 1500 FT LONG, SURROUNDED BY A ROW OF TREES. BEFORE INITIATING A TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GROUND RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA. THE FIELD WAS COVERED WITH GRASS APRX 6 TO 9 INCHES TALL & WAS ORIENTED ON A NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION. THERE WAS A 2% UPSLOPE FROM EITHER END OF THE FIELD TOWARD THE CENTER. ALSO, THERE WAS A ROW OF 20 FT TREES ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF THE FIELD & TALLER TREES, APRX 30 FT HIGH, AT THE NORTH END. THE PLT SAID THE WIND WAS NEGLIGIBLE, SO HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ROLLED APRX 750 FT BEFORE LIFTING OFF. BY THIS TIME, THE PLT BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT CLEARING THE 30 FT TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD & MADE A RIGHT TURN. HOWEVER, DURING THE RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT WING HIT A 20 FT TREE & THE VEHICLE CRASHED. THE PLT NOTICED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE, EXCEPT FOR A LOSS OF TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE. THE MANUFACTURER'S LISTED TAKEOFF DISTANCE WAS 75 TO 100 FT. APRX 7 MI EAST AT WICHITA, KS, THE 1649 CDT WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 7 KTS.

Full Narrative

THE PLT LANDED IN A VACANT FIELD, APRX 1500 FT LONG, SURROUNDED BY A ROW OF TREES. BEFORE INITIATING A TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GROUND RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA. THE FIELD WAS COVERED WITH GRASS APRX 6 TO 9 INCHES TALL & WAS ORIENTED ON A NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION. THERE WAS A 2% UPSLOPE FROM EITHER END OF THE FIELD TOWARD THE CENTER. ALSO, THERE WAS A ROW OF 20 FT TREES ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF THE FIELD & TALLER TREES, APRX 30 FT HIGH, AT THE NORTH END. THE PLT SAID THE WIND WAS NEGLIGIBLE, SO HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ROLLED APRX 750 FT BEFORE LIFTING OFF. BY THIS TIME, THE PLT BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT CLEARING THE 30 FT TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD & MADE A RIGHT TURN. HOWEVER, DURING THE RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT WING HIT A 20 FT TREE & THE VEHICLE CRASHED. THE PLT NOTICED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE, EXCEPT FOR A LOSS OF TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE. THE MANUFACTURER'S LISTED TAKEOFF DISTANCE WAS 75 TO 100 FT. APRX 7 MI EAST AT WICHITA, KS, THE 1649 CDT WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 7 KTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:45 CDT
Nearest Airport7nm E
Runway36
Runway Length1500 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

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

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data