Amateur-built UNKNOWN accident near Powell, Wyoming, August 28, 1983
On August 28, 1983 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built UNKNOWN (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Powell, Wyoming. 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
- August 28, 1983 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Powell, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built UNKNOWN
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE CRASHED IN A CORN FIELD WHILE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. IT IMPACTED THE SOFT GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN, VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE ENGINE BURIED ITSELF TO A DEPTH OF 18 INCHES. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AIRFRAME REVEALEDTHAT A BOLT WITH A SELF LOCKING NUT WAS MISSING FROM WHERE THE TWO RIGHT WING SUPPORT STRUTS ATTACH TO THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AXEL. THE FORWARD STRUT SUPPORT BRACE INDICATED A PRONOUNCED BENDING. THE ANGLE BRACE THAT CONNECTED THE SUPPORT BRACE TO THE AIRFRAME WAS ALSO FOUND BENT. A SEARCH FOR THE MISSING BOLT AND NUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.
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
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 12 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Chotia 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.