Vector 610 accident near Westport, New York, October 10, 1983
On October 10, 1983 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Vector 610 (ultralight), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westport, New York (Westport 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
- October 10, 1983 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Westport, New York · Westport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vector 610, amateur-built
- 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
REPORTEDLY, THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED WHEN THE PLT MADE A HARD LANDING, THEN THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE WENT OVER ON ITS NOSE & CAME TO REST IN A VERTICAL POSITION. FLAMES ENGULFED THE CENTER PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE PLT ROLLED FREE FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT HIS PARKA & HELMET WERE ON FIRE. HIS FATHER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE & ASSISTED IN THE RESCUE EFFORT, BUT HAD DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE HELMET SINCE THE NYLON STRAP HAD MELTED TOGETHER. THE PLT RECEIVED BURNS OVER 44% OF HIS BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 2 PLASTIC FUEL TANKS WHICH WERE PORTABLE & WERE SECURED TO THE FRAME WITH A BUNGEE CORD. THE PLT'S FATHER OWNED THIS & 1 OTHER VECTOR 610. AN EXAM OF THE OTHER VEHICLE REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE MOUNTED WITH THE FUEL CAPS FACING FORWARD, NEXT TO THE BACK OF THE PLT'S SEAT. THERE WAS NO SEAL WHERE THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES PASSED THRU THE FUEL TANK CAPS. WITH APRX 1 GAL OF FUEL IN A TANK, FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 PINT PER MINUTE. MANUFACTURER'S BROCHURES SHOW THAT THE FUEL TANK CAPS SHOULD FACE TO THE REAR.
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: 11 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 445 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah G25B-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.
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.