- Date
- August 21, 1983, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Penn Valley, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGManta Products Fledge 2B-FOXBAT
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 23876
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
The ultralight vehicle collided with a tree after a power loss during takeoff climb. The pilot stated that he accomplished a normal preflt and walked over the field before his first takeoff. After takeoff, all went well for about 1 minute then a power loss and a loss of rudder control were experienced. The ultralight pitched uncontrollably downward then clipped the top of a 60 ft tree. The pilot & vehicle fell vertically to the ground & impacted in a nose low pitch attitude. The pilot had 12 hrs total flying time, all in the subject vehicles. The reason for the loss of power was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Manta Products Fledge 2B-FOXBAT (FLEDGE 2B-)
- Category
- Ultralight
- Serial number
- 1160
- Airframe hours
- 75
- Engine
- Cuyuna UL202, 35 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- Terry Murphy
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 12 total · 12 in this make and model · 12 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F