Amateur-built ASCENDER II+ accident near Haskell, Oklahoma, August 27, 1983
On August 27, 1983 at about 11:45 am local time, a amateur-built ASCENDER II+ (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Haskell, Oklahoma (Haskell 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
- August 27, 1983 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Haskell, Oklahoma · Haskell
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ASCENDER II+ ASCENDER 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 PLT & HIS INSTRUCTOR WERE DEPARTING THE AIRPORT IN SEPARATE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES TO PROCEED ON A X-COUNTRY FLT FOR A FLY-IN. THE INSTRUCTOR SAW THE PLT TAKEOFF, BUT LOST SIGHT OF HIM MOMENTS LATER & DID NOT SEE THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, AN EYE WITNESS STATED THAT HE SAW THE ULTRALIGHT FLYING FROM THE AIRPORT, IN A RIGHT TURN. THE WITNESS HEARD THE ENG REV UP & SAW THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE DROP. HE REPORTED THAT THE ULTRALIGHT ENTERED A STEEP SPIRAL & IMPACTED THE GROUND. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT DESCREPANCY WITH EITHER THE ENG OR THE AIRFRAME.
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: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Norman OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,960 ft by 27 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°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.