# NTSB ANC83FU003: Pteradactyl Ascender, Girdwood, AK, April 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1983, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Girdwood, AK
- Coordinates: 60.899318, -148.910278 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8993&lon=-148.9103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4074
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FU003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4074/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FU003

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb
  - wing - overload (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF, HAD TURNED TO A DOWNWIND HEADING & WAS CLIMBING, WHEN IT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE LONGITUDINALLY. AFTER A FEW OSCILLATIONS, THE VEHICLE NOSED OVER, THE WINGS FOLDED & THE ULTRALIGHT CRASHED TO THE GROUND. ALL PARTS OF THE ULTRALIGHT WERE ACCOUNTED FOR & AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FRACTURES WERE INDICATIVE OF OVERLOAD FAILURES. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 5 TO 10 HRS IN THIS MAKE & MODEL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S FRIENDS, THEY HAD HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT HAVING TO HOLD THE NOSE DOWN DURING FLT. THEY STATED HE HAD A TENDENCY TO 'BURY THE AIRSPEED' WHILE FLYING. ACCORDING TO OTHER PLTS THAT HAVE FLOWN THIS ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE, THE PTERODACTYL CAN ACHIEVE 55 KTS WITH ONLY SLIGHTLY OVER HALF THROTTLE, IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY PITCH SENSITIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS & IT REQUIRES EXCESSIVE NOSE DOWN PITCH CONTROL ABOVE 55 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PTERADACTYL ASCENDER
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Engines: CUYUNA 430R 36 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Operator: Floyd Griffeth
- Registered owner: Sam Capp
- Airport: AQY, Girdwood

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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