MKC83FU002

NTSB accident investigation · Weedhopper JC-24C · 5n Battle Creek, NE · May 21, 1983

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
May 20, 1983, 19:30 local (May 21, 1983, 00:30 UTC)
Place
5n Battle Creek, NE
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Unknown
Aircraft
UNREGWeedhopper JC-24C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
33358

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Loss of control - in flightUnknown
Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Lack of recent experiencePilot in commandFactor
Stall/spin - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The plt had assembled & flown the ultralight vehicle during the previous summer. This was his 1st flt after removing it from winter storage. He was observed preflighting the vehicle before takeoff. At about the time of the accident, a ground witness heard the ultralight fly over, but no known eye witnesses saw the vehicle crash. During the accident, it impacted in an open pasture in a steep nose down, left wing low attitude. There was little movement after impact & 1 propeller blade was shattered. Aprx 3 gal of fuel was remaining in the fuel tank. The plt's total flt time was not determined. According to his father, the plt conducted flts over his farm to observe his crops & cattle. The flt controls consisted of an elevator push-pull rod & rudder cables that were attached to a 'joy stick.' The ultralight was not equipped with ailerons or spoilers for roll control.

Aircraft

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Weedhopper JC-24C
Category
Ultralight, amateur-built
Serial number
1943
Engine
Chotia TM 460, 25 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 103
Registered owner
John H. Wacker
Airport
runway 9, 1,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
29
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Unknown
Seat
Center
Toxicology
Performed

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ORF, 8 nm away