Amateur-built ROTEC RALLY 3 accident near Nickerson, Nebraska, July 31, 1983
On July 31, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ROTEC RALLY 3, registered N3231B, was destroyed in an accident near Nickerson, Nebraska (Farm Strip airport). It was a personal 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
- July 31, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nickerson, Nebraska · Farm Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROTEC RALLY 3 ROTEC RALL
- Registration
- N3231B · registry record · serial 45704241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS A REGISTERED, HOME BUILT, 2 PLACE, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WAS THE PLT'S FRIEND WHO WAS BUILDING HIS OWN ULTRALIGHT & WANTED TO RIDE ALONG TO GET A GENERAL FEELING OF HOW TO LAND THIS TYPE OF ACFT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE TEMP WAS 86 DEG & THE WIND WAS FROM 330 DEEEG AT 8 KTS. AFTER ABOUT A 500 FT GROUND ROLL, THEY LIFTED OFF AT 30 MPH IAS. AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 50 TO 60FT AGL, THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO 25 MPH & THE PLT LOWERED THE NOSE TO REGAIN AIRSPEED. THE ULTRALIGHT BEGAN DESCENDING & THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO ROUND OUT BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE ULTRALIGHT ROLLED FORWARD APRX 1 1/2 TIMES & WAS DEMOLISHED. THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 3100 FT.
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: 102 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 73 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 2 CYCLE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 1,290 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from OMA, 40 miles away
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.