# NTSB LAX83FVD05: Trager Goldwing, N3881B, Kingdon, CA, July 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1983, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Kingdon, CA
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23564
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FVD05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23564/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FVD05

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS FLYING A REGISTERED, HOME BUILT, ULTRALIGHT ACFT THAT HAD JUST BEEN CERTIFICATED. THE 1ST FLT WAS MADE EARLIER ON THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MADE 10 LANDINGS AT LODI, CA, WITH THE WIND ABOUT 20 DEG OFF THE RWY HEADING AT 3 TO 6 KTS. HE THEN FLEW TO KINGDON, CA WHICH REPORTEDLY HAD THE SAME WIND CONDITIONS, BUT WERE FROM A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE RWY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO 'PLANT' THE ACFT ON THE RUNWAY AT KINGDON. REPORTEDLY, HE WAS EXPERIENCING CONTROL DIFFICULTIES DUE TO HIS UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE ACFT. ON THE 4TH APCH, HE LANDED, BUT THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE PLANE HIT A FENCE & CRASHED. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS SENSITIVE TO SMALL WIND CHANGES & HAD LIMITED NOSEWHEEL STEERING. ALSO, HE QUESTIONED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACFT'S WINGLET RUDDERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3881B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3881B-1983-12-12), registration cancelled 1983-12-12, S/N 355 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TRAGER GOLDWING
- Registry model: [Graves/Trager GOLDWING](https://openairdocs.org/model/graves-trager-goldwing) (registry code 056478Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 355
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: CUYUNA 430 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Steven C. Trager
- Departed: 103, LODI, CA
- Airport: 020, Kingdon Airpark, runway 30, 4,000 × 140 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,353 total, 2 in this make and model, 1,281 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19830731037289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830731037289A), Jul 31, 1983: Amtr GOLDWING, Kingdon, CA, Destroyed. Struck a fence during attempted go around. Pilot unfamiliar with aircrafts operation and performance.

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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