# NTSB LAX84FU032: Ultralight UFM East Riser, Cloverdale, CA, August 25, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1984, 11:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: Cloverdale, CA
- Coordinates: 38.780681, -122.91938 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7807&lon=-122.9194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24020
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84FU032
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24020/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84FU032

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ULTRALIGHT UFM EAST RISER
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours: 20
- Engines: 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.

- 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

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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