# NTSB ATL84FU002: American Aerolights Double Eagle, Cape Carteret, NC, November 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: November 30, 1983, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place: Cape Carteret, NC
- Coordinates: 34.689544, -77.119209 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6895&lon=-77.1192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6337
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FU002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6337/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FU002

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN IN A 2 PLACE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE, BUT HAD NOT FLOWN IN ONE THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A CANARD. HE INDICATED TO THE OWNER THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TAXI THE ULTRALIGHT. THE OWNER OBLIGED AFTER EXPLAINING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE & BEING SURE THE PLT WOULD WEAR A HELMET. THE PLT WAS CAUTIONED TO KEEP HIS SPEED BELOW 20 MPH SO AS TO AVOID BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE OWNER & ANOTHER WITNESS OBSERVED THE PLT AS HE STARTED TO TAXI DOWN THE RWY. THEY STATED THAT THE ULTRALIGHT WAS ZIGZAGGING & THAT THE PLT INCREASED AND DECREASED THE POWER SEVERAL TIMES AS THE VEHICLE WOULD SPEED UP & SLOW DOWN. THE ULTRALIGHT CONTINUED DOWN THE RWY AND BECAME AIRBORNE AS IT TRAVELED OVER A RISE. WITNESSES HEARD A POWER REDUCTION & LOST SIGHT OF THE ULTRALIGHT MOMENTARILY. AN INCREASE IN POWER WAS THEN HEARD & THE VEHICLE REAPPEARED ABOVE THE HORIZON. REPORTEDLY, THE ULTRALIGHT PITCHED UP, THENPITCHED DOWN & CRASHED, THE WEIGHT SHIFT VHEICLE HAD BUNGEES FROM THE SEAT TO THE CANARD. NO AIRSPEED GAGE INSTALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AEROLIGHTS DOUBLE EAGLE (DOUBLE EAG)
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours: 30
- Engines: CUYUNA 430B 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Clyde D. Arnold
- Airport: Cape Carteret, Pvt. Strip, runway 9, 3,700 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 6,600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWN, 25 nm away

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.