Amateur-built ASCENGER II+ accident near Round Rock, Texas, July 30, 1983
On July 30, 1983 at about 8:16 pm local time, a amateur-built ASCENGER II+ (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Round Rock, Texas (Edville 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
- July 30, 1983 · about 8:16 pm local time
- Place
- Round Rock, Texas · Edville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ASCENGER II+ ASCENGER I
- 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 HAD BEEN RECENTLY BUILT & HAD BEEN FLOWN ONCE BY AN EXPERIENCED ULTRALIGHT PLT. HE REPORTED THERE WERE NO DISCREPANCIES IN THE VEHICLE'S ASSEMBLY OR FLT CHARACTERISTICS. THE OWNER & 2 OTHER PERSONNEL MET AT THE FLYING AREA & ASSEMBLED THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY ONE WITH FLYING EXPERIENCE TOOK OFF & MADE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE AREA. ON THE LAST PASS, HE WAVED BOTH HANDS & YELLED WHAT 1 WITNESS THOUGHT WAS 'I LOVE IT.' SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE VEHICLE TURNED INTO THE WIND & BEGAN OSCILLATING IN PITCH. THE NOSE THEN PITCHED UP TO OR BEYOND A VERTICLE ATTITUDE & THE VEHICLE BEGAN DESCENDING TAIL 1ST, THEN CRASHED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE WINGS FOLDED, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHETHER THE WINGS FOLDED BEFORE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE ENTERED THE TAIL SLIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR A TAIL SLIDE. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT 1 LANDING WIRE & ALL 4 CANARD BRACE WIRES HAD SEPARATED FROM OVERLOAD. THE WIND WAS GUSTINGTO 20 KTS, A DUST DEVIL WAS SEEN IN THE VICINITY & SVRL MORE-EXPERIENCED PLTS HAD STOPPED FLYING DUE TO THE WINDS.
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: 6 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna UL 202 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.