Amateur-built DYKE DELTA JD2 accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, October 4, 1983
On October 4, 1983 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built DYKE DELTA JD2, registered N55AK, was destroyed in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- October 4, 1983 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DYKE DELTA JD2 DYKE DELTA
- Registration
- N55AK · no longer on the register · serial 1054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING NORTHEAST OVR THE EAST SIDE OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY ARPT AT ABT 1000 FT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT PITCHED DOWNWARD AND ENTERED A SPIN INTO THE GROUND. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE WING BONDING MATERIAL EXHIBITED NUMEROUS AREAS OF NON-ADHESIVE BONDING BETWEEN THE FIRST COAT AND THE FIBER GLASS SKIN. A LAB EXAM OF A PORTION OF THE RIGHT WING BONDING MATERIAL SHOWED THAT THE FIRST COAT OF BONDING DISPLAYED SIGNS OF BOND FAILURE TO THE SKIN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 14 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Punta Gorda FL at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from FMY, 28 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.
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.