# NTSB NYC84FU004: Teratorn TA, Landenberg, PA, June 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1984, 19:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Landenberg, PA
- Coordinates: 39.760196, -75.780883 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7602&lon=-75.7809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35431
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84FU004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35431/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84FU004

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not understood, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN 75 TO 80 HRS IN AN ULTRALIGHT CONTROLLED BY A COMBINATION OF WEIGHT-SHIFT & RUDDER. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE & HIS PARTNER HAD PRACTICED A SERIES OF CROW HOPS IN A TERATORN TA. THE TERATORN TA WAS A 3-AXIS CONTROLLED ULTRALIGHT WHICH HAD STICK CONTROLLED SPOILERONS & ELEVATOR & A FOOT PEDAL ACTUATED RUDDER. THE PLT STATED THAT ON HIS LAST CROW HOP, HE WAS FLYING ABOUT 5 FT ABOVE THE GROUND ACROSS AN OPEN FIELD WHEN HE FOUND HIMSELF INADVERTENTLY HEADING TOWARD A SINGLE, 40 FT TREE. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN AWAY & DECIDED TO FLY OVER THE TREE. A CLIMB WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER, AS THE ULTRALIGHT REACHED ABOUT TREETOP LEVEL, THE VEHICLE MUSHED, THEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & THE ULTRALIGHT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST FLT IN THIS AIRCRAFT, WHICH HE & HIS PARTNER HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. HE HAD NOT RECEIVED DUAL INSTRUCTION IN EITHER A TWO-PLACE ULTRALIGHT OR A CERTIFICATED POWERED ACFT. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TERATORN TA
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours: 50
- Engines: ROTAX 300 28 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Registered owner: R. J. Dysart & K. Swan

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; seat: center

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILG, 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.

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