Amateur-built RALLY 3B accident near Franklin, Massachusetts, September 11, 1983
On September 11, 1983 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built RALLY 3B (ultralight), registered N116RE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Massachusetts. 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
- September 11, 1983 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RALLY 3B
- Registration
- N116RE · 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
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT ACFT WAS BROUGHT TO A FIELD DURING THE MORNING TO CHECK OUT THE CONTROL RIGGING & TO FAMILIARIZE HIM WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO FLY THE ULTRALIGHT AT THAT TIME. LATER IN THE DAY, THE PLT WAS TAXIING & 'CROW HOPPING' IN NORTH & SOUTH DIRECTIONS. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT WHILE IT WAS PROCEEDING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION, THE ULTRALIGHT MADE SEVERAL HOPS IN THE AIR. HE REPORTED THAT IT THEN VEERED IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION, HOPPED UP & DOWN & FINALLY BECAME AIRBORNE. IT CLIMBED ABOVE TREE TOP LEVEL, THEN TURNED LEFT AS IF THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO THE FIELD. HOWEVER, WHILE IN A TURN, THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE TREE TOPS & THE ULTRALIGHT CARTWHEELED & CRASHED. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & COULD NOT REMEMBER DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 753 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 8, 1983; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.