Amateur-built SUNBURST accident near Pittsburg, Kansas, June 8, 1983
On June 8, 1983 at about 1:15 am local time, a amateur-built SUNBURST (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsburg, Kansas (Atkinson Muni airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- June 8, 1983 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Pittsburg, Kansas · Atkinson Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUNBURST
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT HAD COMPLETED A PRIVATE PLT GROUND SCHOOL COURSE & HAD FLOWN APRX 4.6 HRS IN A CESSNA 172 BEFORE FLYING HIS HOME BUILT ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. DURING A TEST FLT, HE WAS MAKING A GO-AROUND FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ULTRALIGHT PITCHED NOSE DOWN TO ABOUT A 45 DEG ANGLE & THE NOISE OF THE ENG INCREASED AS IT PITCHED DOWN. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE SHORT ELEVATOR PUSH-PULL ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ELEVATOR CLEVIS FORK. REPORTEDLY, THE HALF NYLOCK LOCKNUT WAS INSTALLED ON THE CONNECTING BOLT IN A REVERSE DIRECTION. THE MANUFACTURER'S ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE JAM LOCKING OF THE NUT. ON 10/12/82, THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION OF LOCK NUTS, BUT REPORTEDLY, THESE PROCEDURES WERE NOT APPLIED TO THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE FAA A&P MECHANICS HANDBOOK (AC65-9A) DISCUSSED PROCEDURES FOR SECURING PUSH-PULL TUBE LINKAGES/FITTINGS/JAMNUTS. MAINT INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT ALWAYS DISCUSS SPECIFIC SAFETY METHODS.
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: 5 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,660 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.