- Date
- September 30, 1985, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Prineville, OR
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N58209Mitchell U2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850930048209A
- Case key
- 40252
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
Plt was on second flt in newly completed, registered ultralight. Craft had not been issued a certificate of airworthiness. After takeoff, acft was observed to circle airport, then descend out of sight behind trees. Investigation showed steeep, nosedown impact. Airframe destruction precluded establishment of pre-impact structural integrity or absence of control malfunctoin. No power plant defects found. Plt was wearing parachute, which was found partially deployed. No evidence found of medical impairment in 64-YR-OLD plt.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58209
- Reported as
- Mitchell U2
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- U513
- Engine
- Honda 250CC, 18 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William S. Whiting, Jr.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 45 total · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDM, 20 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.