Mitchell A-10 accident near Corning, California, September 14, 1984
On September 14, 1984 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Mitchell A-10 (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Corning, California. It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 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
- September 14, 1984 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corning, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mitchell A-10
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 1048
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT HAD RECENTLY BEEN PURCHASED BY THE NEW OWNER WHO RECEIVED NO INSTRUCTION IN ITS OPERATION. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE TOLD HIS WIFE HE WAS JUST GOING TO TAXI-TEST THE VEHICLE. SHE SAID THERE WAS NO INTENT TO FLY. WHEN SHENO LONGER HEARD OR SAW THE VEHICLE A SEARCH WAS STARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND ABOUT 1 MILE NORTHWEST OF THE ARPT. NORECORDS WERE FOUND TO INDICATE THAT THE PLT HAD ANY FLT EXPERIENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THAT THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT WING LOW AND NOSE DOWN. TOTAL LENGTH OF THE GROUND SCAR WAS 10 FT. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE WAS FOUND.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah 250 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from RBL, 12 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.