- Date
- August 27, 1983, 19:57 local (Aug 28, 1983, 02:57 UTC)
- Place
- Byron, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGDavis Homebuilt
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 23533
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
Ground witnesses reported that the ultralight departed the private airstrip to the east. After departure the plt negotiated a 90 deg lt turn, followed by a 270 deg rt turn. After the 90/270 deg turn was completed, the plt negotiated a rt traffic pattern but did not attempt to land and continued on a westerely heading. After passing the approach end of the east runway, the plt made a rt turn and the rt wing of the vehicle struck tree tops. The vehicle pitched straight down, turned 180 deg and crashed in to a creek. Examination of the wreckage failed to reveal any preexisting airframe or engine malfunctions and/or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Davis Homebuilt
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Engine
- Cuyuna UNKNOWN, 35 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 103
- Registered owner
- James Davis
- Airport
- Byron
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F