- Date
- August 25, 1984, 11:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Cloverdale, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- UNREGUltralight UFM East Riser
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 24020
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 was observed by witnesses on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing. The acft was flying level at about 300 ft AGL when it started a series of roller-coaster maneuvers which increased into a steep ascent and nose over followed by a descending dive into the ground. The engine noise, which sounded as if it were at full power, did not change nor did any of the observers see any objects fall from the acft. A parachute worn by the plt was not deployed. Post accident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact failures of the airframe or engine. The autopsy did not reveal any preimpact conditions which would have interfered with the plts control of the vehicle.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Ultralight UFM East Riser
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours
- 20
- Engine
- Cuyuna ULRR215 17725, 20 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- David R. Pickering
- Departed
- Healdsburg, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Medical
- Unknown
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 100 total · 40 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 70 °F