Amateur-built J3 accident near Dovesville, South Carolina, April 7, 1983
On April 7, 1983 at about 11:28 am local time, a amateur-built J3 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Dovesville, South Carolina (Darlington County 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 7, 1983 · about 11:28 am local time
- Place
- Dovesville, South Carolina · Darlington County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built J3
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE OWNER/PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ULTRALIGHT ACFT ON 4/21/83. HIS INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT HE (THE PLT) HAD RECEIVED APRX 1 1/2 HRS OF SUPERVISED TAXI TIME, BUT HAD NOT FLOWN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLT. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET HIS INSTRUCTOR AT THE ARPT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE APPOINTMENT, THE PLT TOOK OFF. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE ULTRALIGHT TAKEOFF & CLIMB IN A FAIRLY STEEP ATTITUDE, THEN LEVEL OFF. ANOTHER WITNESS OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING LEVEL AT APRX 40 FT AGL, THEN SAW IT IN A NOSE DOWN DESCENT. THE VEHICLE IMPACTED AN ABANDONED RWY IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE EVIDENT. THE PLT HAD NO KNOWN FLT EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO THIS FLT.
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 sea
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki NONE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from FLO, 24 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.