# NTSB DEN84FU010: Weedhopper B, Erie, CO, September 9, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1984, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020687, -105.039855 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0207&lon=-105.0399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16264
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FU010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16264/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FU010

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - ignition system,ignition harness - loose (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - aircraft weight and balance - excessive
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ULTRALIGHT ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE PLT WAS IN A PRACTICE AREA. HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT, AND DURING THE ATTEMPT TO LAND, THE ACFT CRAHSED. AN INSTRUCTOR SAID THE ACFT SEEMED TO BE FLYING SLOWER THAN NORMAL AND THE PLT EXTENDED THE DOWNWIND TURN TO BASE LEG MORE THAN NORMAL. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE CONTROL STICK WAS JAMMED IN THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION. THIS PARTICULAR ACFT WAS NOSE HEAVY BECAUSE OF THE INSTALLATION OF A LARGER ENGINE.AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE TWO SPARK PLUG LEADS WAS LOOSE, ALLOWING MINIMAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE LEAD & THE SPARK PLUG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WEEDHOPPER B
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Engines: Zenoah G34BW2 40 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Andre J. Smith
- Airport: 48V, Tri-County, runway 1, 1,150 × 40 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 9 total, 1 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 19 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.