Amateur-built B1-RD and amateur-built B1-RD (SN:115) mid-air collision near Enfield, New York, May 21, 1983
On May 21, 1983 at about 9:32 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built B1-RD (UNREG) and amateur-built B1-RD (SN:115) (UNREG), were involved in a mid-air collision near Enfield, New York. 1 person was killed and 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
- May 21, 1983 · about 9:32 pm local time
- Place
- Enfield, New York · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built B1-RD
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 244
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built B1-RD (SN:115) B1-RD (SN:
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built B1-RD final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHTS COLLIDED AT ABOUT 300-500 FT AGL APPROACHING THE FIELD TO LAND. THE VEHICLES HAD BEEN OBSERVED FLYING INFORMATION. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MANEUVER DURING THE APPROACH A MIX-UP OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLES COLLIDED WHICH DISABLED THE AIRFRAMES AND THEY CRASHED IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built B1-RD (SN:115) final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLT, THE 2 ULTRALIGHT VEHICLES WERE OBSERVED FLYING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER. LATER, THEY WERE OBSERVED APPROACHING THE DEPARTURE FIELD AT APRX 300 TO 500 FT AGL. THE LEAD VEHICLE, SN:115, WITH A NON-RATED PLT, BEGAN A LEFT TURN. THE OTHER VEHICLE, SN:244, WITH A RATED PLT, CONVERGERED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEY WERE APPROACHING EACH OTHER 'HEAD-ON.' THE PLT OF VEHICLE 244 ATTEMPTED TO PASS BENEATH VEHICLE 115. HOWEVER, THE ULTRALIGHTS COLLIDED, ENTERED A DESCENT & CRASHED. VEHICLE 115 STRUCK A TREE & VEHICLE 244 CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PLT OF VEHICLE 115 WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE THE OTHER PLT WAS FATALLY INJURED.
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 for the amateur-built B1-RD from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command; 7 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 440 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:43 pm from ITH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built B1-RD (SN:115) from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 80 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 80 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 440 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430R (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.