Eagle (Ultralight) B accident near Chugiak, Alaska, February 21, 1983
On February 21, 1983 at about 2:19 pm local time, a Eagle (Ultralight) B, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska. It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 1983 · about 2:19 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eagle (Ultralight) B
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial NONE
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A YARD, AND WHEN THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200 FT AGL, THE ENG LOST RPM MOMENTARILY, THEN REGAINED POWER. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHEN THE RPM DECREASED, THE ULTRALIGHT NOSED OVER & WENT UPSIDE DOWN. DURING THE SEQUENCE, THE WINGS FOLDED & THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND. NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES OF EITHER THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WERE FOUND. AN ASSOCIATE, WHO WAS FLYING IN ANOTHER ULTRALIGHT, STATED THAT THE NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR A LOSS OF POWER WOULD BE TO LOWER THE NOSE TO GAIN AIRSPEED. HE STATED THAT IN A WEIGHT SHIFT CONTROL VEHICLE, SUCH AS THIS WAS, THE RESPONSE WOULD BE IMMEDIATE. HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT SHOULD THE ENG REGAIN POWER, WHILE THE PLT'S WEIGHT WAS SHIFTED FORWARD, THE THRUST WOULD PUSH THE NOSE FURTHER FORWARD (DOWN). HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PLT MAY NOT HAVE COMPLETELY REMOVED FROST FROM THE CANARD, AND IF THE CANARD LOSES LIFT, THE NOSE WOULD DROP.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna UNK/NR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z15 Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.