Amateur-built MX accident near Ramona, California, July 20, 1983
On July 20, 1983 at about 4:21 pm local time, a amateur-built MX (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California (San Diego Ultra-Light airport). It was an instructional 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
- July 20, 1983 · about 4:21 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · San Diego Ultra-Light · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MX
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION IN A 2 PLACE, TRAINING VEHICLE, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON A SOLO FLT FROM A 270 X 25 FT ULTRALIGHT STRIP. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE VEHICLE STARTED DRIFTING TOWARD A TREE. HE INITIATED A TURN TO THE RIGHT (AWAY FROM THE TREE); BUT THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING LIFT & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN A NOSE HIGH, SLIGHTLY RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG OPERATED NORMALLY & THAT HE DID NOT USE THE SPOILERONS. HOWEVER, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE VEHICLE IN AN ERRATIC YAW & REPORTED SEEING EXTENSION ON THE RIGHT SPOILERON & LEFT RUDDER DEFLECTION, THEN LATER SAW THE LEFT SPOILERON EXTEND. THE PLT'S INSTRUCTOR CALLED ON THE RADIO TO RETRACT THE SPOILERONS& INCREASE POWER, BUT THE PLT STATED HE DID NOT HEAR THE TRANSMISSION. THE PLT STATED THAT HIS DUAL TRAINING, DURING THEPRECEEDING 2 MONTHS, CONSISTED OF TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS ONLY, AND THAT HE WAS NOT TAUGHT TO USE SPOILERONS AND/OR STALL & SLIP MANEUVERS. THE 2 PLACE ULTRALIGHT, USED FOR DUAL TRAINING, WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SPOILERONS.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna UNK/NR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 270 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.