Amateur-built B accident near Erie, Colorado, September 9, 1984
On September 9, 1984 at about 2:10 pm local time, a amateur-built B (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Colorado (Tri-County airport). 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
- September 9, 1984 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B
- 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 ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE PLT WAS IN A PRACTICE AREA. HE RETURNED TO THE ARPT, AND DURING THE ATTEMPT TO LAND, THE ACFT CRAHSED. AN INSTRUCTOR SAID THE ACFT SEEMED TO BE FLYING SLOWER THAN NORMAL AND THE PLT EXTENDED THE DOWNWIND TURN TO BASE LEG MORE THAN NORMAL. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE CONTROL STICK WAS JAMMED IN THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION. THIS PARTICULAR ACFT WAS NOSE HEAVY BECAUSE OF THE INSTALLATION OF A LARGER ENGINE.AN EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE TWO SPARK PLUG LEADS WAS LOOSE, ALLOWING MINIMAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE LEAD & THE SPARK PLUG.
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: 9 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 360 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah G34BW2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 1,150 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DEN, 19 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.