Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81 accident near Ozark, Arkansas, October 30, 1983
On October 30, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ozark, Arkansas (Ozark-Franklin County airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- October 30, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Arkansas · Ozark-Franklin County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81 TOMCAT H.M
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS A PARAPLEGIC. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A CESSNA 172 & HAD IT MODIFIED FOR HAND CONTROL. HOWEVER, HE HAD DISCONTINUED INSTRUCTION IN THE PLANE WHEN HE WAS DENIED A MEDICAL WAIVER ON THE GROUNDS THAT HE HAD TO TAKE VALIUM AS A MUSCLE RELAXANT. LATER, IN 1982, HE PURCHASED PLANS FOR A WASPAIR TOMCAT, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE AFTER ASSEMBLING THE ULTRALIGHT, THE PLT DECIDED TO PRACTICE 'CROW-HOPS' ON THE LOCAL ARPT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE WINDS WERE NORTHERLY AT ABOUT 10 GUSTING UP TO 30 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD CHANGED DIRECTION OF HIGH SPEED RUNS TWICE BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. REPORTEDLY, ON ITS 1ST TAKEOFF, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A GUSTY X-WIND. AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 40 FT AGL, HE LOST CONTROL & THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TILTING CANARD THAT PROVIDED BOTH PITCH & YAW CONTROL. THE CANARD WAS THE ONLY MOVABLE CONTROL SURFACE & WAS USED FOR AIRBORNE MANEUVERS. THIS WAS THE 1ST FLT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PLT'S INSTRUCTOR HAD NOT ENDORSED HIM FOR THIS FLT.
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: 30 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 595 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna UII-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.