Amateur-built WIDGET accident near Yreke, California, May 2, 1983
On May 2, 1983 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built WIDGET, registered N3881D, was destroyed in an accident near Yreke, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 2, 1983 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Yreke, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WIDGET
- Registration
- N3881D · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO ABOUT 7,000-8,000 FT MSL & ENTER A SLOW FLAT SPIN. 8 TURNS WERE COUNTED & THE ACFT DID NOT RECOVER. THE PLT BAILED OUT OF THE ACFT AT ABOUT 500-600 FT BUT THE PARACHUTE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FULLY DEPLOY. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & ELEVATOR HAD BROKEN LOOSE & ONLY FABRIC HELD IT TO THE EMPENNAGE. BOTH THE FORWARD & REAR SPARS WERE BROKEN AT A POINT WHERE THE ATTACHING BOLTS GO THROUGH THE SPARS. THE FORWARD SPAR WAS 1/2 INCH THICK & DRILLED WITH A 1/4 INCH DRILL TO ACCOMMODATE THE 1/4 INCH MOUNTING BOLT. THE HOLE WAS NOT CENTERED IN THE SPAR & THE HOLE HAD RUN OUT THE SIDE OF THE SPAR. THE REAR SPAR WAS 1 INCH THICK & THE 1/4 INCH HOLE WAS ALSO DRILLED OFF-CENTER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 685 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 12, 1983; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 2A120B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.