Amateur-built A accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, July 1, 1984
On July 1, 1984 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built A (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Tullahoma 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
- July 1, 1984 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Tullahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial NONE
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT HAD BEEN FLOWN FOR 4 FTLS AND THE PLT UPON LANDING MENTIONED A POSSIBLE CONTROL PROBLEM WITH THE OWNER AND BUILDER. THE BUILDER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE UP TO SHOW HOW FAST IT WOULD GO. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF FLT HE DOVE ATTHE RWY IN A FULL POWER SHALLOW DIVE AND ENTERED A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 30 FT AGL. THE RIGHT AILERON WAS SEEN FLUTTERING BY A WITNESS JUST BEFORE THE RIGHT WING MOVED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME. THE ACFT CRASHED NOSE FIRST AND BOUNCED ABOUT 40 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT ON THE RWY.
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: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah 250 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; ovct at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from BNA, 50 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.