Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grand Island, Nebraska 68801
Monday, July 16, 1984 21:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE THE FLT, THE INSTRUCTOR SAW A THUNDERSTORM APPROXIMATETLY 20 MI NORTH OF THE FIELD, MOVING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST. HE & THE STUDENT ELECTED TO MAKE A SHORT FLT. AFTER TAKING OFF, THEY MADE A PRACTICE FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 1 MI NORTHWEST OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. AFTER THE FORCED LANDING, THEY START ANOTHER TAKEOFF RUN. AT THE SAME TIME THE TAIL WAS RAISED DURING THE ROLL, A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE AIR WAS DEAD CALM, THEN 1 SEC LATER, IT GUSTED TO 40 MPH. HE SAID THAT THE ULTRALIGHT WENT STRAIGHT UP IN A FLAT CLIMB, MUCH LIKE A HELICOPTER. AFTER REACHING AN ESTIMATED 200 FT AGL, THE ROUGH AIR REPORTEDLY ROLLED THE ULTRALIGHT INTO A 90 DEG LEFT BANK & IT BEGAN A FAST DESCENT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE IMPACTED IN A SHALLOW POND WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH. THE STUDENT WAS WEARING A MOTORCYCLE HELMET & STATED THAT IT SAVED HIM FROM HAVING A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/16/1984
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAND ISLAND
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68801
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 40
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 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 920
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 25000
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 MKC84LU006
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 103: Ultralight
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROTEC
Aircraft Model RALLY 3
Aircraft Series Identifier RALLY 3
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Ultralight
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GREG WALNOFER
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 71
Aircraft Owner City ORCHARD
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68764
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2050
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
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 --