Amateur-built QUICKSILVER MXL accident near Erie, Colorado, July 23, 1984
On July 23, 1984 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER MXL (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 had minor injuries. 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
- July 23, 1984 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Erie, Colorado · Tri-County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER MXL QUICKSILVE
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 1252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORMAL TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL. THE PLT TURNEDTHE VEHICLE TO AVOID TREES AND A RIVER. DURING THE HARD FORCED LANDING, THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE PLT HURT HIS LEG. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A SPARK PLUG SHORTED BY A METALLIC PARTICLE ACROSS THE FILAMENTS. ACCORDING TOTHE PLT, THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAD OCCURRED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 169 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.