Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3 accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa, August 1, 1983
On August 1, 1983 at about 1:20 am local time, a Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3 (ultralight), registered N3915C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Council Bluffs, Iowa (Council Bluffs Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 1, 1983 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa · Council Bluffs Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rotec Engineering, Inc. RALLY 3
- Registration
- N3915C · no longer on the register · serial 25150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
OWNER/PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS GIVING 'FLIGHT TIME AND GROUND INSTRUCTION TO ANOTHER ULTRALIGHT OWNER.' THE INSTRUCTOR ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO CO-OPERATE THE CONTROLS AND DID THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD LANDING A DEAD STICK LANDING WAS INITIATED. THE LANDING FLARE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND A HARD LANDING RESULTED. DURING THE LANDING, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED FURTHER.
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
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 225 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 1983; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.