Amateur-built W-1 accident near Shafter, California, May 19, 1983
On May 19, 1983 at about 2:50 am local time, a amateur-built W-1 (ultralight), registered UNREG, suffered minor damage in an accident near Shafter, California (Shafter airport). 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
- May 19, 1983 · about 2:50 am local time
- Place
- Shafter, California · Shafter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built W-1
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THIS MISHAP WAS A WIZARD W-1 ULTRALIGHT WHICH WAS ASSEMBLED FROM A KIT SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER, US, INC. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE CONTROLLER BY 'WEIGHT SHIFTS' OF THE PLT, AND FEATURED A GROUND ADJUSTABLE FIXED HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & A MOVABLE OPERATOR HARNESS ATTACH POINT FOR TRIM ADJUSTMENT. THE PLT/OPERATOR HAD MADE 'CROW HOPS' FOR APRX 15 MIN TO ADJUST THE VEHICLE TRIM PRIOR TO TAKING OFF & PERFORMING HIGHER FLT. AFTER A NORMAL TAKEOFF RUN & DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENG LOST POWER AT APRX 50 FT. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE TRIM WAS STILL NOT CORRECT & THE VEHICLE STALLED, THEN ENTERED A DESCENT & CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A HARD LANDING. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT WHEEL ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED. THE OPERATER, SUSPENDED FROM A TURBULAR FRAME BY A WIRE & HARNESS ONLY, CONTACTED THE GROUND & RECEIVED BACK & NECK INJURIES. THE OPERATOR STATED THE ENG STOPPED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HE WAS A LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR WIZARD ULTRALIGHTS & HAD ACCUMULATED 40 OF 50 HRS IN THE WIZARD W-1.
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
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 50 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Yamaha 100 CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,980 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 am from BFL, 10 miles away
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.