Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berthoud, Colorado 80513
Friday, May 4, 1984 11:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ULTRALIGHTS WERE FLYING IN LOOSE FORMATION ON A SHORT X-COUNTRY. DURING THE FLT, THE WIND SHIFTED TO THE EAST AND CREATED SOME TURBULENCE AND DOWNDRAFTS NEAR THE END OF THE JOURNEY ON FINAL APPROACH. THE LEAD VEHICLE LANDED WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE THAT HIS COMPANION HAD CRASHED. WITNESSES SAW THE ACCIDENT ULTRALIGHT IN APPARENT TROUBLE DESCENDING AND ASCENDING BEFORE DIVING INTO THE GROUND. THE SURVIVING PLT OF THE OTHER ACFT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED A SINK OVER A DEPRESSION WHILE ON FINAL, BUT NEEDED IT TO LOSE ALT SO IT DID NOT BOTHER HIM AND HE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND INTACT AND ALL ACFT PARTS WERE ACCOUNTED FOR. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF AN INFLIGHT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/4/1984
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City BERTHOUD
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80513
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 1
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1431
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 26759
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number DEN84FU004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 103: Ultralight
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EIPPER
Aircraft Model QUICKSILVER MX
Aircraft Series Identifier QUICKSILVE
Aircraft Serial Number 3136093
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Ultralight
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 100
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FEATHERAIRE AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11654 COMMUNITY CENTER DR. 110
Aircraft Owner City NORTHGLENN
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80233
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 48V
Departure City ERIE
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --