Amateur-built ACRO X accident near Jackson, California, August 29, 1983
On August 29, 1983 at about 5:01 pm local time, a amateur-built ACRO X, registered N83AX, was destroyed in an accident near Jackson, California (Westover Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 29, 1983 · about 5:01 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, California · Westover Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACRO X
- Registration
- N83AX · no longer on the register · serial AX1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT MADE A TURN INTO THE DOWNWIND LEG. AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL WHILE THE PLT ROCKED THE WINGED TO FRIENDS ON THE GROUND, THE CANOPY BLEW OFF & BECAME LODGED IN THE RIGHT WING'S FLYING WIRES. THE ACFT BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT& PITCH UPWARDS. THE MAIN RIGHT WING STALLED & THE ACFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE PLT BAILED OUT & HIS CHUTE OPENED ABOUT 300 FT AGL. THE PLT LATER STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE CANOPY LATCH WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED PRIOR THE TAKEOFF.
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
- Flight time: 415 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 374 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.