Amateur-built FLIGHTSTAR accident near Robinson, Illinois, August 27, 1983
On August 27, 1983 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built FLIGHTSTAR (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Robinson, Illinois. It was a personal flight 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
- August 27, 1983 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Robinson, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FLIGHTSTAR
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKING OFF, HE STAYED LOW OVER FARM FIELDS. HE REPORTED THAT HE TRAVELED ABOUT 1 1/4 MI FROM THE ARPT & DECIDED TO RETURN & LAND. HOWEVER, DURING A LEFT TURN, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE CRASHED. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & DID NOT REMEMBER DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT AFTER REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THE ULTRALIGHT WAS FLYING SLOW WHEN THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN & IT ENTERED A SPIRAL & HIT THE GROUND. THE PLT STATED THAT HE BEGAN THE TURN WHILE AT APRX 75 TO 100 FT AGL & WAS INCREASING POWER WHEN THE RIGHT WING CAME UP & THE NOSE DROPPED. AN EXAM OF THE FLT CONTROLS SHOWED CONTINUITY THRU-OUT THE SYS. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED THE URETHANE HOSE WAS PINCHED & MELTED AT A LOCATION BETWEEN THE ENG CASE & THE PULSATING FUEL PUMP. A FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ON A 50 DEG DAY, THE TEMP IN THAT AREA WOULD BE APRX 175 TO 200 DEG & THAT THE HOSE WOULD COLLAPSE & BECOME SEATED TOGETHER AT 200 DEG. THE TEMPERATURE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 98 DEG.
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: 220 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki TA-440B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RSV Robinson IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 84°F (29°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.