- Date
- April 17, 1983, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Le Grand, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- UNREGRotec Rally 2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 23523
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Reportedly, the plt took off & landed in a dairy pasture with no apparent difficulties. He then took off again on an easterly heading. After takeoff, he turned to a modified crosswind/downwind pattern & was proceeding in a northwesterly direction. Reportedly, after reaching an alt of aprx 125 ft AGL, the vehicle entered a nose down, wings level attitude & began descending. The vehicle continued descending until colliding with the ground. No evasive action was observed no preimpact/mechanical failure was verified; however, the plt's seat was found separated from its forward & rear attach fittings. Speed tape had been used to attach the seat support tubes to the main frame & was found broken. An investigation revealed that aprx 10 days before the accident, the plt was having difficulty in getting the vehicle tofly. He had conferred with a rotec rep & was told the CG was too FAR forward & to move the seat aprx 2 inches aft. The plt removed the bolts that connected the seat, but did not reinstall them, instead, he used 'speed tape.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Rotec Rally 2B
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- NONE
- Airframe hours
- 1
- Engine
- Cuyuna 430R, 35 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- John E. Price
- Last inspection
- Unknown · April 16, 1983
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 88 total · 3 in this make and model · 62 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft unknown
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MER, 10 nm away