Eipper QUICKSILVER MX accident near Libby, Montana, March 4, 1984
On March 4, 1984 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Eipper QUICKSILVER MX (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Libby, Montana (Libby 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
- March 4, 1984 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Libby, Montana · Libby · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eipper QUICKSILVER MX QUICKSILVE
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 4239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE WAS ON AN APCH TO THE ARPT WHEN IT ENTERED A LEFT DESCENDING TURN & CONTINUED THE TURN UNTIL IMPACTING A TREE. ONE WITNESS SAID THE PLT WAS BENT OVER FORWARD. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT MADE NO MOVEMENTS WITH HIS HANDS OR FEET TO AVOID THE TREE OR INCREASE POWER. THE 1ST PERSON TO ARRIVE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE NOTICE VOMIT IN THE PLT'S MOUTH. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID HE HAD AN ULCER THAT WAS GETTING WORSE. A FRIEND REPORTED THAT ON OCCASIONS, WHILE AT WORK, THE PLT HAD TO STOP WORKING & SIT DOWN, THEN DOUBLED UP WITH PAIN. HE HAD BEEN DRINKING MILK REGULARLY & HAD BEEN TAKING A NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUG (MAALOX) TO RELIEVE ULCER DISCOMFORT.
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: 5 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 27, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 460 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°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.