Amateur-built T-BIRD II accident near Richfield, Utah, September 5, 2012
On September 5, 2012 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built T-BIRD II (ultralight), registered N8106C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Richfield, Utah (Richfield Muni 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 loss of control during landing due to a pitch control malfunction. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to continue flight with a known mechanical problem.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2012 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Richfield, Utah · Richfield Muni Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-BIRD II
- Registration
- N8106C · no longer on the register · serial 5168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the new owner of the ultralight had reassembled it and found that it oscillated during level flight and that the owner then contacted him for assistance in diagnosing the issue. He reported that he conducted a preflight inspection and noted no anomalies. Immediately after takeoff, the ultralight began to oscillate up and down with no elevator input. The pilot stayed in the traffic pattern, and the oscillations continued at different altitudes and airspeeds. During landing, the ultralight touched down about 45 knots with upward oscillations. The pilot decided to take off again and experiment with different trim settings. Upon liftoff, the ultralight again began to oscillate with no throttle or elevator inputs. The pilot decided to depart the traffic pattern to further experiment with the trim and power settings; however, different trim and power settings had no effect on the oscillations. The pilot indicated that the oscillations were random, so he could only react to the direction with flight control corrections and could not anticipate which flight control corrections would be needed. The pilot reentered the traffic pattern for landing and, during the landing, when the ultralight was about 5 feet above the ground and at 40 knots, the oscillations began again. The pilot pushed the yoke forward, which stopped the oscillations; however, the rear main landing gear touched down on the runway, which forced the ultralight back into the air. The pilot recalled that the ultralight's nose then pointed downward and that he pushed full left rudder before the ultralight impacted the ground. After the accident, the pilot learned that the owner had reassembled the ultralight without assistance from a mechanic. While inspecting the ultralight after the accident, the pilot noted that, if the pitch control cable was loose, it would randomly move. The ultralight was not made available by the owner for examination; therefore, the reason for the oscillations could not be determined; however, it is likely that the pitch control cable was loose, causing the random oscillations.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Malfunction
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 20, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 224 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIF Richfield UT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: RIF Richfield UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from RIF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.