Amateur-built TIERRA accident near Bullhead City, Arizona, December 3, 1983
On December 3, 1983 at about 4:12 pm local time, a amateur-built TIERRA (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullhead City, Arizona (Bullhead City airport). It was an instructional 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
- December 3, 1983 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Bullhead City, Arizona · Bullhead City
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TIERRA
- 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
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN ULTRALIGHT ACFT. BEFORE TAKING OFF, HE TAXIED THE ULTRALIGHT SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE FEEL OF THE VEHICLE. DURING DEPARTURE, THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM A TAXI STRIP WEST OF RWY 17. THE STRIP WAS USED BY ULTRALIGHT PLTS FOR ALL TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. THE PLT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING & WHILE NEGOTIATING A LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING STALLED & THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE LEFT TURN WAS STARTED AT ABOUT 50 FT AGL, THEN THE ULTRALIGHT STALLED. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL THRU-OUT THE SEQUENCE & THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CLIMBING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME & ENG DISCLOSED NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 337 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.
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.