Amateur-built DRAGON FLY 294 accident near Franklin, Georgia, March 16, 1984
On March 16, 1984 at about 7:05 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGON FLY 294, registered N83WH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1984 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGON FLY 294 DRAGON FLY
- Registration
- N83WH · registry record · serial 294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT ACFT WITH 3 PERSONS ABOARD LOST ITS PROPELLER AFTER THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED DURING CRUISE. A FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED ON A STATE HIGHWAY. THE PLT SAID HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND CONTACTED A DITCH AND TWO FENCE POSTS. THE PLT HAS NOT FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 81 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGC La Grange GA at 6:55 pm
- Destination: RGM Rome GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N83WH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.