Pterodactyl PTRAVLER accident near Grants Pass, Oregon, August 7, 1983
On August 7, 1983 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Pterodactyl PTRAVLER (ultralight), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants Pass, Oregon (Josephine County airport). It was an instructional 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
- August 7, 1983 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Grants Pass, Oregon · Josephine County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pterodactyl PTRAVLER
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · ultralight rules (Part 103)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ULTRALIGHT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AFTER A TAKEOFF DURING AIR TAXI PRACTICE. THE TWO PROSPECTIVE BUYERS WERE TAKING TURNS TAXIING THE VEHICLE WHILE BEING INSTRUCTED BY THE OWNER. ONE OF THE PROSPECTS DURING HIS 2ND TAXI RUN BECAME AIRBORNE AND CLIMBED TO AN ALT OF ABOUT 100 FT AGL. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AIRBORNE A WITNESS HEARD A POWER REDUCTION AND OBSERVED THE VEHICLE START A DESCENDING ROLL TO THE LEFT WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL IMPACT. THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT WEARING A BELT/HARNESS OR ANY HEADGEAR. HE RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES.NEITHER OF THE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS WERE PILOTS NOR DID THEY HAVE ANY ULTRALIGHT EXPERIENCE.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MFR, 27 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.