Amateur-built ASCENDER accident near Girdwood, Alaska, April 10, 1983
On April 10, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ASCENDER (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Girdwood, Alaska (Girdwood airport). 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
- April 10, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Girdwood, Alaska · Girdwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ASCENDER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF, HAD TURNED TO A DOWNWIND HEADING & WAS CLIMBING, WHEN IT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE LONGITUDINALLY. AFTER A FEW OSCILLATIONS, THE VEHICLE NOSED OVER, THE WINGS FOLDED & THE ULTRALIGHT CRASHED TO THE GROUND. ALL PARTS OF THE ULTRALIGHT WERE ACCOUNTED FOR & AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE FRACTURES WERE INDICATIVE OF OVERLOAD FAILURES. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT HAD ONLY ABOUT 5 TO 10 HRS IN THIS MAKE & MODEL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT'S FRIENDS, THEY HAD HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT HAVING TO HOLD THE NOSE DOWN DURING FLT. THEY STATED HE HAD A TENDENCY TO 'BURY THE AIRSPEED' WHILE FLYING. ACCORDING TO OTHER PLTS THAT HAVE FLOWN THIS ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE, THE PTERODACTYL CAN ACHIEVE 55 KTS WITH ONLY SLIGHTLY OVER HALF THROTTLE, IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY PITCH SENSITIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS & IT REQUIRES EXCESSIVE NOSE DOWN PITCH CONTROL ABOVE 55 KTS.
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: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 535 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°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.