Amateur-built SUNBURST accident near Goddard, Kansas, September 11, 1983
On September 11, 1983 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SUNBURST (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goddard, Kansas. It was a personal 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
- September 11, 1983 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Goddard, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUNBURST
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED IN A VACANT FIELD, APRX 1500 FT LONG, SURROUNDED BY A ROW OF TREES. BEFORE INITIATING A TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GROUND RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA. THE FIELD WAS COVERED WITH GRASS APRX 6 TO 9 INCHES TALL & WAS ORIENTED ON A NORTH-SOUTH DIRECTION. THERE WAS A 2% UPSLOPE FROM EITHER END OF THE FIELD TOWARD THE CENTER. ALSO, THERE WAS A ROW OF 20 FT TREES ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF THE FIELD & TALLER TREES, APRX 30 FT HIGH, AT THE NORTH END. THE PLT SAID THE WIND WAS NEGLIGIBLE, SO HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ROLLED APRX 750 FT BEFORE LIFTING OFF. BY THIS TIME, THE PLT BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT CLEARING THE 30 FT TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD & MADE A RIGHT TURN. HOWEVER, DURING THE RIGHT TURN, THE RIGHT WING HIT A 20 FT TREE & THE VEHICLE CRASHED. THE PLT NOTICED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE, EXCEPT FOR A LOSS OF TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE. THE MANUFACTURER'S LISTED TAKEOFF DISTANCE WAS 75 TO 100 FT. APRX 7 MI EAST AT WICHITA, KS, THE 1649 CDT WIND WAS FROM 190 DEG AT 7 KTS.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from ICT, 7 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.