Amateur-built MX LII Sport accident near Palmdale, California, July 2, 2005
On July 2, 2005 at about 2:30 am local time, a amateur-built MX LII Sport, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Palmdale, California (Brian Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2005 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Palmdale, California · Brian Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MX LII Sport
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain just after takeoff. A relative of the pilot reported that just prior to the accident, the relative and the pilot attempted to takeoff. The airplane would not gain altitude due to a control problem so the pilot dropped the relative off and departed alone. Immediately following the takeoff, when the airplane was about 75 feet above ground level, the airplane banked to the left, then the right, and descended into the terrain. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator inspected the airplane and found no evidence of power or control malfunctions. Review of the aircraft specifications disclosed that it exceed the limitations of 14 CFR Part 103.1 for classification as an ultralight. The pilot did not hold any FAA pilot certificates. According to records of the United States Ultralight Association, Inc. (USUA) and the FAA, the pilot did not hold a training exemption for this ultralight, nor had a waiver been issued for 14 CFR 103.7. Records reviewed by USUA personnel indicated that the pilot was a registered ultralight pilot since 1986.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL13 Brian Ranch CA at 2:30 am
- Destination: CL13 Brian Ranch CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,462 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PMD, 17 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.