# NTSB LAX91LA170: Sunrise Ultralight Spitfire II, Elk Grove, CA, April 5, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1991, 09:59 local (17:59 UTC)
- Place: Elk Grove, CA
- Coordinates: 38.43959, -121.299606 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4396&lon=-121.2996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27169
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27169/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA170

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, unqualified person (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, unqualified person (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, unqualified person (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE NON-CERTIFICATED OWNER OF A NON-CERTIFICATED, NON-REGISTERED AIRPLANE, AND A NON-CERTIFICATED PASSENGER WERE MANEUVERING TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT DURING A FLIGHT IN WHICH THE PASSENGER WAS REPORTEDLY TEACHING THE OWNER HOW TO FLY. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO STALL AND DESCEND TO THE GROUND IN A RIGHT TURN FROM AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE AIRPLANE IS SIMILAR TO  AN ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE BUT DOES NOT MEET THE ULTRALIGHT DEFINITION.  BOTH OCCUPANTS DO NOT POSSESS AIRMAN OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SUNRISE ULTRALIGHT SPITFIRE II (SPITFIRE I)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTEX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: William Nelson
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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