Amateur-built J-3 accident near Wetumpka, Alabama, April 9, 1983
On April 9, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built J-3 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wetumpka, Alabama (Wetumpka Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 9, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wetumpka, Alabama · Wetumpka Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built J-3
- 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
THE PLT REPORTED HAVING ABOUT 0.4 HOUR OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS NEW ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. THE NOSEWHEEL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERABLE & THERE WERE NO BRAKES ON THE MAIN GEAR. THEREFORE, THE PLT RELIED ON THE RUDDER FOR GROUND STEERING. AT SLOW SPEED, AIR FROM THE PROPELLER WAS NECESSARY FOR TURNING. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LEAF SPRING BRAKE ON THE NOSEWHEEL. THE MISHAP OCCURRED DURING TAXI PRACTICE. WHILE THE PLT WAS TAXIING BACK TO A GROUP OF BYSTANDERS, HE REPORTEDLY FOUND HIMSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE HE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID A PARKED CAR. HE ADDED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET MORE RUDDER RESPONSE FOR TURNING. HOWEVER, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO TURN SUCCESSFULLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ULTRALIGHT STRUCK THE CAR & A BYSTANDER. THE CAR RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE & THE BYSTANDER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.
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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 160 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 11 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°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.