Amateur-built PHANTOM accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire, April 28, 1983
On April 28, 1983 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built PHANTOM (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire (Jaffrey Municipal airport). 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
- April 28, 1983 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jaffrey, New Hampshire · Jaffrey Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PHANTOM
- 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
SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PLT WAS ADVISED BY OTHERS THAT THE ENG ON HIS NEWLY ASSEMBLED ULTRALIGHT DID NOT'SOUND RIGHT.' AFTER CHECKING HE NOTED THAT FULL POWER COULD NOT BE OBTAINED FROM THE ENG. HOWEVER, ENOUGH POWER WAS AVAILABLE TO FLY A NUMBER OF LOCAL FLTS. HE ALSO NOTED BLACK SOOTY DEPOSITS ON THE SPARK PLUGS & THAT THE ENG AIR INTAKEFILTER WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. THIS FLT WAS TO FURTHER TROUBLESHOOT THE ENG PROBLEM. THE ENG LOST POWER AT 200 FT AGL & THE PLT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE PLT OVERFLEW AN OPEN FIELD & THE VEHICLE STALLED AVOIDING RISING TERRAIN & TREES. THE PLUNGER OF THE STARTING MIXTURE ENRICHMENT SYSTEM/FUNCTIONS AS A CHOKE) WAS FOUND BOUND UP AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE CARB HOUSING WHILE MOVING TO THE 'DESENGAGED' POSITION. THE ACTUATOR CABLE HOUSING FLEXED UNDERNEATH THE FIBERGLASS NOSE FAIRING WHEN THE PLUNGER STOPPED MOVING, ALLOWING THE KNOB TO RETURN CLOSE TO ITS NORMAL 'CHOKE-OFF' POSITION.
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: 12 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 420 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki 440-2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from EEN, 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.