# NTSB BFO84FU003: Ultralight Flight Phantom, South Boston, VA, August 14, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1984, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: South Boston, VA
- Coordinates: 36.699542, -78.900138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6995&lon=-78.9001&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO84FU003
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11111/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO84FU003

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - elevator - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT ARRIVED AT THE ARPT ABOUT 1530 FOR A DEMO FLT & POSSIBLE PURCHASE OF A PHANTOM ULTRALIGHT. THE FBO HAD THE PLT FLY A C-152 FROM THE RIGHT SEAT TO FAMILIARIZE THE PLT TO FLY WITH THE CONTROL STICK ON THE RIGHT & THE THROTTLE ON THE LEFT SINCE THIS IS THE WAY THE PHANTOM IS CONFIGURED. FOUR TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS WERE PERFORMED DURING THE 30 MIN FLT. THE PLT THEN TOOK OFF IN THE PHANTOM & FLEW 10-15 MIN IN THE LOCAL AREA BEFORE RE-ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ON SHORT FINAL, 20-50 FT AGL, THE ULTRALIGHT WAS OBSERVED TO PORPOISE SLIGHTLY A FEW TIMES. IT THEN DOVE NOSE DOWN AT A 30-45 DEG ANGLE ONTO THE GRASS RWY. THE PLT LATER STATED HE WAS EXECUTING A GO-AROUND & HIS NATURAL REFLEX ACTION WAS TOADVANCE THE THROTTLE WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ultralight Flight, Inc. PHANTOM
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: 381
- Airframe hours: 25
- Engines: KAWASAKI TA440A 37 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Watkins Aviation
- Airport: W78, William M. Tuck, runway 23, 3,000 × 300 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 300 total, 1 in this make and model, 240 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °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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