Amateur-built HM-81 TOMCAT TOUR accident near Chugiak, Alaska, March 20, 1983
On March 20, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built HM-81 TOMCAT TOUR (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 20, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HM-81 TOMCAT TOUR HM-81 TOMC
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TEST PLT & DEALER FOR THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE & MADE ADJUSTMENTS PRIOR TO MAKING A TEST FLIGHT AFTER IT WAS ASSEMBLED. HE STATED THAT BEFORE TAKEOFF, HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS SETTING THE CARBURETOR MIXTURE & THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS NOT WORKING WELL. DURING EARLIER TAXI TESTS, THE ENG CEASED OPERATING A NUMBER OF TIMES. FINALLY, ON THE LAST TAXI TEST, THE ENG OPERATED AT FULL RPM & HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO A CLEARING & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO TREES. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE TREES & THE PLT REMAINED SECURE BY HIS LAP BELT & SHOULDER HARNESS. HOWEVER, AFTER HE RELEASED HIS RESTRAINT SYSTEM, HE WAS INJURED WHEN HE FELL APRX 40 FT TO THE GROUND. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 40 & 36 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, SERIOUS ICING WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE AT CRUISE POWER. HOWEVER, ICING WAS NOT VERIFIED. THERE WAS NO PROVISION FOR CARBURETOR HEAT.
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, March 20, 1983; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from PAQ, 16 miles away
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.