Airmass SUNBURST UNREG
8 June 1983 · Pittsburg, Kansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 8 June 1983 at about 01:15 local time, a Airmass SUNBURST registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.
The record
- Date
- at 01:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Pittsburg, Kansas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Atkinson Muni (PTS)
- Coordinates
- 37.4106, -94.6895
- Aircraft
- Airmass SUNBURST
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Ultralight
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 103: Ultralight
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MKC83FU003
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.
Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT HAD COMPLETED A PRIVATE PLT GROUND SCHOOL COURSE & HAD FLOWN APRX 4.6 HRS IN A CESSNA 172 BEFORE FLYING HIS HOME BUILT ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. DURING A TEST FLT, HE WAS MAKING A GO-AROUND FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WHEN THE VEHICLE CRASHED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE ULTRALIGHT PITCHED NOSE DOWN TO ABOUT A 45 DEG ANGLE & THE NOISE OF THE ENG INCREASED AS IT PITCHED DOWN. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE SHORT ELEVATOR PUSH-PULL ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ELEVATOR CLEVIS FORK. REPORTEDLY, THE HALF NYLOCK LOCKNUT WAS INSTALLED ON THE CONNECTING BOLT IN A REVERSE DIRECTION. THE MANUFACTURER'S ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE JAM LOCKING OF THE NUT. ON 10/12/82, THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLATION OF LOCK NUTS, BUT REPORTEDLY, THESE PROCEDURES WERE NOT APPLIED TO THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE FAA A&P MECHANICS HANDBOOK (AC65-9A) DISCUSSED PROCEDURES FOR SECURING PUSH-PULL TUBE LINKAGES/FITTINGS/JAMNUTS. MAINT INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT ALWAYS DISCUSS SPECIFIC SAFETY METHODS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Airmass SUNBURST accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1983 | Airmass SUNBURST MODEL B | Ernul, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Aug 1983 | Airmass SUNBURST | Carthage, Missouri, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Sep 1983 | Airmass SUNBURST | Goddard, Kansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1983 | Airmass SUNBURST | Tacoma, Washington, United States | Jeffery Castanga | Fatal | 1 |
| 27 Apr 1983 | Airmass SUNBURST B | Norwalk, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 1983 | Cessna P210N | Lawrence, Kansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Mar 1983 | Cassutt III M SPORT | Hiawatha, Kansas, United States | John A. Rolfsmeyer | No injuries | - |
| 9 Apr 1983 | Cessna 172 I | Paola, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Oct 1983 | Cessna 152 | Augusta, Kansas, United States | Goldwing Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1983 | Breezy 01 | Kechi, Kansas, United States | Steve L. Phinney | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Oct 1983 | Cessna 150F | Garnett, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |