American Aerolights EAGLE XL accident near Smithfield, Virginia, July 31, 1984
On July 31, 1984 at about 12:45 pm local time, a American Aerolights EAGLE XL (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithfield, Virginia (Atlantic Ultralights airport). It was an instructional 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 31, 1984 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, Virginia · Atlantic Ultralights
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Aerolights EAGLE XL
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 300122
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE, A STUDENT, WAS IN RADIO CONTACT WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR THRU USE OF A PORTABLE HAND-HELD UHF TRANSCEIVER. ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED HIM TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP FOR A PRACTICE POWER OFF LANDING. DURING THE APCH, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE STRIP AT 600 TO 800 FT AGL, THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED HIM TO REDUCE THE POWER TO IDLE. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD HEARD THE POWER REDUCTION TO ABOUT 50% WHEN HE OBSERVED THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE PITCH DOWN. FROM HIS POSITION, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO FLIP OVER, SIMILAR TO AN OUTSIDE LOOP, BUT WITH NO LOSS OF ALT. (THE OPERATOR BELIEVED THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RAPID NOSE DOWN, THEN NOSE UP PITCH WHICH APPEARED TO BE A TUMBLE.) IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, THE WINGS FOLDEDUPWARD, THEN THE ULTRALIGHT ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR PRE-ACCIDENT MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. APATHOLOGICAL EXAM REVEALED EVIDENCE OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE & ANGINA. MEDICAL EXAMINER SUSPECTED PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 6 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 440 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 1,700 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from PHF, 10 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.