# NTSB LAX83LU012: Manta Products Fledge 2B-FOXBAT, Penn Valley, CA, August 21, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1983, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Penn Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 39.17995, -121.200355 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1799&lon=-121.2004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LU012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23876/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LU012

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Manta Products FLEDGE 2B-FOXBAT (FLEDGE 2B-)
- Category: Ultralight
- Serial number: 1160
- Airframe hours: 75
- Engines: 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.

- 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

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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