- Date
- March 31, 1983, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lehighton, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGPterodactyl Ascender II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 35123
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
Several witnesses observed the ultralight vehicle takeoff & climb in a circular pattern to an alt of about 1500 ft. one witness stated that just prior to the accident sequence, the ultralight was turning with a steep angle of bank. At about that time, the witnesses heard a reduction in power. Two witnesses heard a pop/puff sound. A 3rd witness stated the ultralight flipped over twice. All 3 witnesses reported that the wings folded or collapsed & the ultralight fell or dove to the ground. An exam of the wreckage revealed that the leading edge & rear tubular spars had failed in a downward direction (relative to the airframe). Also, the keel was broken, forward of the rear spars & the king post was bent downward at about the midpoint. None of the cables failed. During the accident sequence, the right winglet separated & fell about 100 ft from the main wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Pterodactyl Ascender II (ASCENDER I)
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1239
- Airframe hours
- 4
- Engine
- Cuyuna 14119, 30 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- John F. Gibbons
- Departed
- Lehighton, PA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4 total · 4 in this make and model · 4 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABE