Amateur-built ASTRA HS accident near Bakersfield, California, May 30, 1983
On May 30, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built ASTRA HS (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Costerisan airport). It was a business 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
- May 30, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Costerisan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ASTRA HS
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A FAMILIARIZATION FLT IN PREPARATION TO FLY THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ON A X-COUNTRY TO EVALUATE IT FOR A MAGAZINE ARTICLE. THE ENG QUIT ON THE 1ST FLT & A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING WAS MADE. REPORTEDLY, THE VEHICLE REQUIRED ONLY MINOR REPAIRS & A TEST FLT BY A COMPANY PLT WAS DECLINED BY THE PLT PRIOR TO HIS 2ND & LAST FLT. AFTER THE 2ND TAKEOFF, THE VEHICLE WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB IN A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. ON DOWNWIND AT APRX 500 FT AGL, THE VEHICLE NOSEDOVER INTO ABOUT A 20 DEG DIVE. IT THEN ACCELERATED & POWER WAS MAINTAINED WELL INTO THE DIVE, EVEN AFTER IF APPROACHED 40 DEG. THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO A SLOW LEFT BANK & IMPACTED. THE POWER WAS REDUCED BEFORE IMPACT. THE AIRSPEED WAS ESTIMATED WELL ABOVE THE 'NEVER EXCEED' SPEED. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL ORCONTROL FAILURE. REPORTEDLY, THE VEHICLE WAS SOMEWHAT NOSE HEAVY, BUT NO WT & BALANCE DATA WAS AVAILABLE. ALSO IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE PLT WORE CONTACT LENSES & PREVIOUSLY HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS GOGGLES COMING OFF & LANDING IN HIS LAP.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 337 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.