Amateur-built EAGLE 2 PLC accident near Millard, Nebraska, July 5, 1984
On July 5, 1984 at about 7:01 pm local time, a amateur-built EAGLE 2 PLC (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millard, Nebraska. 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
- July 5, 1984 · about 7:01 pm local time
- Place
- Millard, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAGLE 2 PLC EAGLE 2 PL
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER EXCHANGING THE CANARD ELEVATOR & READJUSTING THE SPOILER CONTROL TELEFLEX CABLE ROD END AT THE SPOILER BELLCRANK, HE TOOK OFF ON A TEST FLT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MIN OF FLT, THE RIGHT SPOILER FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER IT WAS USED DURING A RIGHT TURN. THE PLT TRIED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BY APPLYING LEFT RUDDER. HE SAID THAT HE COULD STOP THE TURN WITH LEFT RUDDER APPLIED, BUT THIS CONTROL INPUT RESULTED IN THE NOSE OF THE VEHICLE PITCHING UP. WHEN HE REDUCED THE RUDDER, THE VEHICLE WOULD REENTER THE RIGHT TURN & THE NOSE WOULD DROP, PLACING THE VEHICLE IN A SPIRAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CRASH LANDED ON A GOLF COURSE. AN EXAM REVEALED AN OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE THREADS OF THE TELEFLEX CABLE BELLCRANK. THE REASON FOR THE OVERLOAD WAS NOT VERIFIED.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,800 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 501 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLE Millard NE at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from OMA, 13 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.