SEA83FU005

NTSB accident investigation · Pterodactyl Ascender II · Sumner, WA · June 28, 1983

Accident · FatalFinal report
Date
June 27, 1983, 20:30 local (Jun 28, 1983, 03:30 UTC)
Place
Sumner, WA
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
UNREGPterodactyl Ascender II
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
39639

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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Analysis

Reportedly, a father & his 14 yr old son had been receiving ground & taxi instruction, and had received 'crow-hop' practice in the previous few weeks. On 6/27/83, the vehicle became airborne with the son on board. He flew it in a pattern around the open field that was being used by ultralight plts. Witnesses reported that the plt attempted to land by approaching over trees from south to north, but overshot the 500 ft landing area. During a go-around, he struck ground vehicles in a parking lot at the north end of the field, but continued to fly. On the 2nd approach, the ultralight came over trees at the south end & executed a series of stair-step maneuvers on the approach. At aprx 60 ft AGL, the vehicle nosed over & struck the ground in a steep descent. No preimpact/mechanical failures were found. The investigation did not determine whether or not the flt was intentional.

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 flightApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Aircraft handling - improperPilot in commandCause
Inadequate initial trainingPilot in commandCause
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Aircraft

Registration
UNREG
Reported as
Pterodactyl Ascender II (ASCENDER I)
Category
Ultralight
Engine
Cuyuna 430-R, 30 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 103
Registered owner
Jerry J. Johnson

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
14
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea
Medical
Unknown
Seat
Center

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F