Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81 UNREG

Summary

On 30 October 1983 at about 19:30 local time, a Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81 registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Ozark, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

30 October 1983 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ozark, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Ozark-Franklin County (7M5)

Coordinates

35.4908, -93.8396

Aircraft

Waspair TOMCAT H.M. 81

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

FTW84FU002

1 person was seriously injured.

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 WAS A PARAPLEGIC. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED A CESSNA 172 & HAD IT MODIFIED FOR HAND CONTROL. HOWEVER, HE HAD DISCONTINUED INSTRUCTION IN THE PLANE WHEN HE WAS DENIED A MEDICAL WAIVER ON THE GROUNDS THAT HE HAD TO TAKE VALIUM AS A MUSCLE RELAXANT. LATER, IN 1982, HE PURCHASED PLANS FOR A WASPAIR TOMCAT, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE AFTER ASSEMBLING THE ULTRALIGHT, THE PLT DECIDED TO PRACTICE 'CROW-HOPS' ON THE LOCAL ARPT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE WINDS WERE NORTHERLY AT ABOUT 10 GUSTING UP TO 30 KTS. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD CHANGED DIRECTION OF HIGH SPEED RUNS TWICE BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. REPORTEDLY, ON ITS 1ST TAKEOFF, THE VEHICLE ENCOUNTERED A GUSTY X-WIND. AT AN ALTITUDE OF APRX 40 FT AGL, HE LOST CONTROL & THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TILTING CANARD THAT PROVIDED BOTH PITCH & YAW CONTROL. THE CANARD WAS THE ONLY MOVABLE CONTROL SURFACE & WAS USED FOR AIRBORNE MANEUVERS. THIS WAS THE 1ST FLT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PLT'S INSTRUCTOR HAD NOT ENDORSED HIM FOR THIS FLT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.