- Date
- April 9, 1983, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wetumpka, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- UNREGWizard J-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 5978
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt reported having about 0.4 hour of experience in this new ultralight vehicle. The nosewheel of the vehicle was not steerable & there were no brakes on the main gear. Therefore, the plt relied on the rudder for ground steering. At slow speed, air from the propeller was necessary for turning. However, the vehicle was equipped with a leaf spring brake on the nosewheel. The mishap occurred during taxi practice. While the plt was taxiing back to a group of bystanders, he reportedly found himself in a situation where he could not stop in time to avoid a parked car. He added power in an attempt to get more rudder response for turning. However, there was insufficient room to turn successfully. Subsequently, the ultralight struck the car & a bystander. The car received minor damage & the bystander sustained minor injuries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Wizard J-3
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours
- 2
- Engine
- Kawasaki UNKNOWN, 40 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- Montgomery Aero Club
- Airport
- 08A · Wetumpka Municipal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 160 total · 1 in this make and model · 11 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 1 °F