Amateur-built RALLY 2B accident near Le Grand, California, April 17, 1983
On April 17, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RALLY 2B (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Le Grand, California. It was a personal flight 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
- April 17, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Le Grand, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RALLY 2B
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial NONE
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PLT TOOK OFF & LANDED IN A DAIRY PASTURE WITH NO APPARENT DIFFICULTIES. HE THEN TOOK OFF AGAIN ON AN EASTERLY HEADING. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE TURNED TO A MODIFIED CROSSWIND/DOWNWIND PATTERN & WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION. REPORTEDLY, AFTER REACHING AN ALT OF APRX 125 FT AGL, THE VEHICLE ENTERED A NOSE DOWN, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE & BEGAN DESCENDING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED DESCENDING UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS OBSERVED NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS VERIFIED; HOWEVER, THE PLT'S SEAT WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM ITS FORWARD & REAR ATTACH FITTINGS. SPEED TAPE HAD BEEN USED TO ATTACH THE SEAT SUPPORT TUBES TO THE MAIN FRAME & WAS FOUND BROKEN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT APRX 10 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE VEHICLE TOFLY. HE HAD CONFERRED WITH A ROTEC REP & WAS TOLD THE CG WAS TOO FAR FORWARD & TO MOVE THE SEAT APRX 2 INCHES AFT. THE PLT REMOVED THE BOLTS THAT CONNECTED THE SEAT, BUT DID NOT REINSTALL THEM, INSTEAD, HE USED 'SPEED TAPE.'
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 88 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 16, 1983
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from MER, 10 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.