BFO95LA057

Factual narrative

On June 6, 1995, at 1645 eastern daylight time, an unregistered CGS Aviation "Hawk" ultralight collided with a fence and guy wire during takeoff from a mowed lawn in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. The private pilot was fatally injured. The ultralight was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 103. According to the owner of the ultralight, the purpose of the flight was to relocate the ultralight to a private airstrip in New Britain Township, Pennsylvania. The owner stated that the pilot offered to fly the ultralight to its destination. The owner of the ultralight reported that the pilot "...taxied the ultralight around for 15 to 20 minutes to get the feel of it and on the last pass I went to the left side of the plane and asked Jake how it felt. He said it felt good and strong." The owner further reported, "I went to the back of the ultralight and pulled him back to get maximum takeoff room. I then gave the thumbs up sign and he acknowledged me and then throttled down and took off, his wheel hit a barbed wire fence but with Jake being an experienced pilot he straightened it out immediately then the right wing just barely hit a guide wire coming from a telephone pole along the driveway. (One of the poles he told me that he would have to be careful of after he [assessed] the takeoff runway)." Witnesses at the accident site also stated that the ultralight's main gear tires struck a fence during takeoff. They reported that after the ultralight's tires contacted the fence, its right wing contacted a guy wire at the top of a telephone pole and the ultralight flipped upside down. The witnesses stated the ultralight fell to the ground and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector reported that the ultralight had two seats installed which was not permitted under 14 CFR Part 103. Therefore, the ultralight is considered an unregistered airplane. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot received a Third Class Medical Certificate on February 20, 1992. At the time of his application for the certificate, he reported a total flight time of 460 hours. DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM A MOWED LAWN, THE ULTRALIGHT STRUCK A FENCE AND THEN A GUY WIRE NEAR THE TOP OF A TELEPHONE POLE. THE ULTRALIGHT FLIPPED OVER AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ULTRALIGHT DID NOT REVEAL ANY AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES. THE ULTRALIGHT HAD TWO SEATS INSTALLED WHICH IS NOT PERMITTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 103. THEREFORE, THE ULTRALIGHT WAS CONSIDERED AN UNREGISTERED AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12