Wizard J-3 UNREG

Summary

On 9 April 1983 at about 23:45 local time, a Wizard J-3 registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Wetumpka, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

9 April 1983 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wetumpka, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Wetumpka Municipal (08A)

Coordinates

32.5395, -86.2003

Aircraft

Wizard J-3

Registration

UNREG

Category

Ultralight

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 103: Ultralight

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL83FU001

Nobody was 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 REPORTED HAVING ABOUT 0.4 HOUR OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS NEW ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE. THE NOSEWHEEL OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERABLE & THERE WERE NO BRAKES ON THE MAIN GEAR. THEREFORE, THE PLT RELIED ON THE RUDDER FOR GROUND STEERING. AT SLOW SPEED, AIR FROM THE PROPELLER WAS NECESSARY FOR TURNING. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A LEAF SPRING BRAKE ON THE NOSEWHEEL. THE MISHAP OCCURRED DURING TAXI PRACTICE. WHILE THE PLT WAS TAXIING BACK TO A GROUP OF BYSTANDERS, HE REPORTEDLY FOUND HIMSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE HE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID A PARKED CAR. HE ADDED POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET MORE RUDDER RESPONSE FOR TURNING. HOWEVER, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO TURN SUCCESSFULLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ULTRALIGHT STRUCK THE CAR & A BYSTANDER. THE CAR RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE & THE BYSTANDER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.