Amateur-built PFLEDGLING accident near Canandaigua, New York, July 2, 1984
On July 2, 1984, a amateur-built PFLEDGLING (ultralight), registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Canandaigua, New York (Canandaigua airport). It was a personal flight under ultralight rules (Part 103). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 2, 1984
- Place
- Canandaigua, New York · Canandaigua · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PFLEDGLING
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP CLIMB. A WITNESS STATED THAT WHEN IT WAS CLIMBING OVER THE MIDPOINT OF THE RWY, IT ENTERED A STEEP DIVE. THE PLT RECOVERED FROM THE DESCENT & BEGAN ANOTHER STEEP CLIMB. AFTER REACHING ABOUT 250 TO 300 FT, THE ULTRALIGHT ENTERED ANOTHER STEEP DIVE. AGAIN, THE PLT STARTED TO RECOVER; HOWEVER, DURING THE PULL-OUT, THE LEFT WING BUCKLED, THEN THE VEHICLE DESCENDED TO THE GROUND & CRASHED. NO PRE-ACCIDENT FATIGUE FAILURE OR PART MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Bloomfield NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.