Davis HOMEBUILT accident near Byron, California, August 28, 1983
On August 28, 1983 at about 2:57 am local time, a Davis HOMEBUILT (ultralight), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, California (Byron airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 28, 1983 · about 2:57 am local time
- Place
- Byron, California · Byron · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Davis HOMEBUILT, amateur-built
- 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
GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ULTRALIGHT DEPARTED THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP TO THE EAST. AFTER DEPARTURE THE PLT NEGOTIATED A 90 DEG LT TURN, FOLLOWED BY A 270 DEG RT TURN. AFTER THE 90/270 DEG TURN WAS COMPLETED, THE PLT NEGOTIATED A RT TRAFFIC PATTERN BUT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO LAND AND CONTINUED ON A WESTERELY HEADING. AFTER PASSING THE APPROACH END OF THE EAST RUNWAY, THE PLT MADE A RT TURN AND THE RT WING OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK TREE TOPS. THE VEHICLE PITCHED STRAIGHT DOWN, TURNED 180 DEG AND CRASHED IN TO A CREEK. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE FAILED TO REVEAL ANY PREEXISTING AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FAILURES.
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: Cuyuna UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 500 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 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.