Amateur-built QUICKSILVER accident near Wichita, Kansas, September 22, 1983
On September 22, 1983, a amateur-built QUICKSILVER, registered N3150X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas (Wichita Gliderport 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
- September 22, 1983
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · Wichita Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built QUICKSILVER QUICKSILVE
- Registration
- N3150X · no longer on the register · serial 1006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) & STUDENT WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, USING A REGISTERED, 2 PLACE, ULTRALIGHT ACFT WITH A SINGLE CONTROL STICK. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, THE STUDENT WAS MAKING A TAKEOFF TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST WHEN THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND & THE RIGHT WING DROPPED. AT THAT TIME, THE CFI REACHED FOR THE CONTROL STICK, LOCATED BETWEEN THE 2 SEATS, TO HELP THE STUDENT REGAIN CONTROL. REPORTEDLY, THE STUDENT RELEASED THE STICK BEFORE THE CFI HAD TIME TO GRAB IT. THE STICK WENT FULL FORWARD & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE CFI GRABBED THE STICK & TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL. HOWEVER, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALT TO RECOVER & THE ULTRALIGHT CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 240 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 15 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,519 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 1,416 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1982; 200 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.