# NTSB MIA83FU005: Pterodactyl Ascender, Jacksonville, FL, July 10, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 10, 1983, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Jacksonville, FL
- Coordinates: 30.269058, -81.74987 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2691&lon=-81.7499&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83FU005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83FU005

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - wing,bracing wire - overload
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PLTS OF 2 HIGH WING, PTERODACTLE ASCENDER, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES TOOK OFF & WERE OPERATING IN A DESIGNATED AREA FOR ULTRALIGHTS. ONE PLT (PLT-A) WAS MAKING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS WHILE THE OTHER PLT (PLT-B) WAS MANEUVERING IN THE VICINITY. AFTER PLT-A MADE A TOUCH & GO, PLT-B TURNED TO PARALLEL HIS COURSE. REPORTEDLY, THIS PUT PLT-B HIGH, BEHIND & TO THE RIGHT OF PLT-A, WHO WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHBOUND HEADING. PLT-B SAID THAT HE THOUGHT PLT-A HAD SEEN HIM AS THEY CONTINUED ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE. REPORTEDLY, PLT-A DID NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS HIGH/BEHIND HIM. PLT-A REPORTED THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO APRX 100 TO 150 FT, HE TURNED WESTBOUND IN THE PATTERN & THE OTHER ULTRALIGHT WAS STILL IN THE BLIND SPOT OF THE HIGH WING VEHICLE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. DURING IMPACT, THE FLYING WIRE FOR THE LEFT WING OF PLT-A'S VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF PLT-B'S VEHICLE. PLT-A'S ULTRALIGHT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN & CRASHED. PLT-B LANDED WITH A BROKEN RIGHT MAIN WHEEL & A BROKEN STRENGTHENING WIRE.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE PLTS OF 2 HIGH WING, PTERODACTYL ASCENDER, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES TOOK OFF & WERE OPERATING IN A DESIGNATED AREA FOR ULTRALIGHTS. ONE PLT (PLT-A) WAS MAKING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS WHILE THE OTHER PLT (PLT-B) WAS MANEUVERING IN THE VECINITY. AFTER PLT-A MADE A TOUCH & GO, PLT-B TURNED TO PARALLEL HIS COURSE. REPORTEDLY, THIS PUT PLT-B HIGH, BEHIND & TO THE RIGHT OF PLT-A, WHO WAS CLIMBING ON A SOUTHBOUND HEADING. PLT-B SAID THAT HE THOUGHT PLT-A HAD SEEN HIM AS THEY CONTINUED ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE. REPORTEDLY, PLT-A DID NOT SEE THE OTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS HIGH/BEHIND HIM. PLT-A REPORTED THAT AFTER CLIMBING TO APRX 100 TO 150 FT, HE TURNED WESTBOUND IN THE PATTERN & THE OTHER ULTRALIHGT WAS STILL IN THE BLIND SPOT OF THE HIGH WING VEHICLE UNTIL JUST BEFORE IMPACT. DURING IMPACT, THE FLYING WIRE FOR THE LEFT WING OF PLT-A'S VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OF PLT-B'S VEHICLE. PLT-A'S ULTRALIGHT ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED SPIN & CRASHED. PLT-B LANDED WITH A BROKEN RIGHT MAIN WHEEL & A BROKEN STRENGTHENING WIRE.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PTERODACTYL ASCENDER
- Category: Ultralight
- Airframe hours: 300
- Engines: unknown NR reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: William R. Brown
- Airport: 23J, Herlong

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PTERODACTYL ASCENDER
- Category: Ultralight
- Engines: unknown NR reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: Theodore C. Myer
- Airport: 23J, Herlong

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft 1; age 36; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: front
- Pilot, aircraft 2; age 48; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: JAX, 15 nm away

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.