Advanced Aviation BUCCANEER SX B1B-503 accident near Palmer, Massachusetts, November 17, 1991
On November 17, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Advanced Aviation BUCCANEER SX B1B-503, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Massachusetts (Palmer Metro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FAILED LOWER RUDDER ATTACH PIVOT BOLT WHICH RESULTED IN JAMMED FLIGHT CONTROLS AND AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Massachusetts · Palmer Metro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Advanced Aviation BUCCANEER SX B1B-503 BUCCANEER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STARTED A TURN. HE HEARD SOMETHING LET GO AND THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR JAMMED. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE AND MADE AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TREES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE LOWER RUDDER ATTACH PIVOT BOLT HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE AIRPLANE WAS AN ULTRALIGHT OPERATING AS AN UNREGISTERED AIRPLANE.
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: student
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 350 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,475 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 040° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.
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.