Amateur-built TOMCAT accident near Roseville, California, August 26, 1983
On August 26, 1983 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built TOMCAT (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roseville, 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
- August 26, 1983 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Roseville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TOMCAT
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A PLOWED FIELD WHICH WAS ADJACENT TO A RICE FIELD. DURING THE LANDING MANEUVER, THE PLT ENTERED A LEFT TURN OVER THE RICE FIELD. AS HE CONTINUED THE TURN OVER THE PLOWED FIELD, A THERMAL WAS ENCOUNTERED & THE VEHICLE ENTERED A 45 DEG RIGHT BANK. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN THE 'THERMAL CEASED', THE AIRSPEED HAD DECREASED TO WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE STEEP BANK ANGLE. REPORTEDLY, THE BANK ANGLE REMAINED CONSTANT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE ENG & VEHICLE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. A GROUND WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM APRX 270 DEG AT 10 KTS. A LEVEE WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE CRASH SITE.
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 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.