# NTSB CHI83FA336: American Aerolights Eagle 2, N930AA, Valpariso, IN, July 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1983, 19:58 local (Jul 28, 1983, 00:58 UTC)
- Place: Valpariso, IN
- Coordinates: 41.469951, -87.050003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4700&lon=-87.0500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12005
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA336
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12005/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA336

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - uncontrolled, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PERSON WHO SOLD THE ACFT TO THE PLT STATED HE HAD GIVEN THE PLT A TRAINING FLT THAT EVENING, BUT SINCE THERE WAS ONLY 1 SET OF CONTROLS, THE PLT (INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT) ONLY OBSERVED. SINCE DARKNESS WAS APCHG, THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE FLYING. HOWEVER, HE (THE PREVIOUS OWNER) SUGGESTED THAT THE PLT (NEW OWNER) COULD TAXI THE ACFT, WHICH WAS A 2 PLACE ULTRALIGHT. WHILE THE PLT WAS TAXIING, WITTNESSES SAW THE ACFT BECOME AIRBORNE. ONE WITNESS SAID THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 150TO 200 FT, ENTERED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN, THEN ENTERED A LEFT TURN WHICH BECAME PROGRESIVELY STEEPER UNTIL THE ACFT WENT INTO A STEEP DIVE & CRASHED. TWO OTHERS SAID THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB AFTER LIFT-OFF, THEN ENTERED A LEFT TURN. ONE SAID IT MADE TWO 360 DEG CLIMBING LEFT TURNS, FOLLOWED BY THREE 360 DEG DESCENDING LEFT TURNS, BEFORE IT CRASHED. ALL SAID THE ENG REMAINED AT HIGH POWER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE PLT USED A 10 LB WT ON THE RIGHT WING FOR BALLAST. REPORTEDLY, THE 210 LB PLT NEEDED ABOUT 11 LBS FOR LATTERAL BALANCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N930AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N930AA-1985-03-20), registration cancelled 1985-03-20, S/N 400125 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN AEROLIGHTS EAGLE 2
- Registry model: [Nethery Carl EAGLE 2-PLACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/nethery-carl-eagle-2-place) (registry code 05658JV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 400125
- Airframe hours: 30
- Engines: ROTAX 503 CC 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William H. James
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 12, 1983, 30 hours before
- Airport: VPZ, Porter County, runway 27, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 76 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830727035709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830727035709A), Jul 27, 1983: Amtr EAGLEXL2, Valpariso, IN, Destroyed. Pilot allowed aircraft to liftoff during a taxi only operation. Aircraft descended into the ground spiraling.

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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