Eastern Ultralight SNOOP accident near Norton, Massachusetts, June 19, 1983
On June 19, 1983 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Eastern Ultralight SNOOP, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norton, Massachusetts (Mansfield Muni.). 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
- June 19, 1983 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Norton, Massachusetts · Mansfield Muni.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eastern Ultralight SNOOP
- 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
THE NON-RATED PLT HAD PURCHASED THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE ABOUT 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD COMPLETED APRX 8 HRS OF TAXI & LOW FLTS ALONG A GRASS RWY. EARLIER ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE HAD MADE 2 FLTS & REPORTEDLY HAD ACCUMULATED 1 HR OF FLT TIME IN THE ULTRALIGHT. ON THE 3RD FLT, HE TOOK OFF FROM THE MANSFIELD MUNI ARPT TO REPOSITION THE ULTRALIGHT TO A GOLF COURSE, ABOUT 3 MI AWAY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT APPROACHING A FAIRWAY & REPORTED IT APPEARED LOW AS IT APPROACHED TREES. HE REPORTED THAT THE NOSE PITCHED UP SHARPLY, THE LEFT WING LOWERED & THE ULTRALIGHT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE AS THE NOSE LOWERED IN THE VICINITY OF A HOUSE. HE REPORTED THAT THE NOSE PITCHED UP AGAIN, THEN THE ULTRALIGHT LOST ALTITUDE RAPIDLY & DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES AND CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE ULTRALIGHT OR ITS ENG WAS FOUND. THE PLT HAD HAD APRX 7 HRS DUAL FLT INSTRUCTION IN A CONVENTIONAL ACFT, BUT HIS 1ST SOLO FLT WAS IN THE ULTRALIGHT.
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: 8 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 532 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1B9 Mansfield MA at 11:25 pm
- Destination: Norton MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from OWD, 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.