# NTSB CHI84LU004: Ultralight Flight Phantom, St. Joseph, IL, June 16, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1984, 20:00 local (Jun 16, 1984, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: St. Joseph, IL
- Coordinates: 40.139728, -88.059822 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1397&lon=-88.0598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LU004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LU004

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - stall/mush - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS PRACTICING POWER-OFF LANDINGS, DURING WHICH HE REPORTEDLY CUT-OFF THE ENGINE AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL. DURING THE 5TH LANDING OF THIS TYPE, THE ULTRALIGHT LOST SPEED, THEN ENTERED A DESCENT & TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ultralight Flight, Inc. PHANTOM
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: 00172
- Engines: KAWASAKI TA 440A 35 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Ed Niklaus
- Airport: NONE, Busboom (Pvt)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Observed at: 1 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.

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