Pioneer FLT STAR accident near Elk Grove, California, May 19, 1984
On May 19, 1984 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Pioneer FLT STAR (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elk Grove, California (Sunset Sky Ranch 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
- May 19, 1984 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elk Grove, California · Sunset Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pioneer FLT STAR
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 465E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT WAS ON A SOLO TRAINING FLT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AS THE VEHICLE PASSED OVER THE RWY. THE STUDENT MADE A SHOLLOW BANK TO THE RIGHT AND DESCENDED INTO AN ADJACENT FIELD WHERE SHE AND THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH SOME BALES OF HAY. THE STUDENT HAD RECEIVED 20 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN A 2 PLACE CESSNA ACFT PRIOR TO HER SOLO FLT IN THE ULTRALIGHT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE THE IGNITION COIL HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. THE ULTRALIGHT WAS EQUIPED WITH A BALLISTIC PARACHUTE SYSTEM WHICH WAS NOT DEPLOYED.
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: 20 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki 440A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- 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.
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.