Pterodactyl ASCENDER accident near Near Largo, Maryland, June 27, 1982
On June 27, 1982 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Pterodactyl ASCENDER (ultralight), registered NONE, was destroyed in an accident near Near Largo, Maryland. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- June 27, 1982 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Near Largo, Maryland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pterodactyl ASCENDER
- Registration
- NONE · no longer on the register · serial 894
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PREPARING FOR A FLIGHT TO FILM A SEGMENT FOR A TV PROGRAM ABOUT ULTRALIGHTS,THE PILOT COMPLETED A SERIES OF TAXI TESTS & CLIMBS TO ABOUT 50FT AGL FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE LANDING. HE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTED TO USE NO MORE THAN3/4 POWER & NEVER FLY BEYOND VNE OF 55MPH. HE THEN COMMENCED A TAKEOFF & STEEP CLIMB AT FULL POWER & PROCEEDED TO MAKE SOME TURNS,CLIMBS & DESCENTS FROM ABOUT 500-1000FT. THE ULTRALIGHT THEN ENTERED A FULL POWER DESCENT & BEGAN A PITCH OSCILLATION FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT WING. IN REVIEWING A VIDEO TAPE,IT APPEARED THAT THE PILOT LOST HIS FOOTING ON THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING BAR & WAS TOSSED FORWARD DURING THE PITCH OSCILLATION. THE PILOT WAS LIFTED UP OUT OF HIS SEAT DURING THE OSCILLATION. BOTH WINGS FOLDED & THE PILOT FELL CLEAR OF THE ULTRALIGHT. THE PILOT DID NOTHAVE HIS SEAT HARNESS FASTENED. NO PILOT CERTIFICATE HAD EVER BEEN ISSUED TO THE PILOT. FEDERAL REGULATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A PILOT OF AN ULTRALIGHT TO RECEIVE TRAINING OR POSSESS AN AERONAUTICAL RATING IN THIS CATEGORY OF AIRCRAFT.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 465 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ultralight East, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Near Largo MD at 10:15 am
- Destination: Near Largo MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from ADW, 8 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 NONE 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.