Amateur-built DRAGONFLY SP accident near Hamilton, Ohio, May 16, 1993
On May 16, 1993 at about 4:03 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY SP, registered N32T, was destroyed in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL FILTER, WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSEQUENT LOSS ON ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTIAN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD, WHICH RESULTED ON AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1993 · about 4:03 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY SP DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N32T · registry record · serial 01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE, SO HE DECIDED TO CHECK THE EFFECTS OF THE CHANGES. ACCORDING TO HIM, THE OIL TEMPERATURE WAS BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE, SO HE CONTINUED FLYING TOWARDS HIS HOME. HE STATED THAT EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE 'STARTED TO MISS.' HE STATED THAT HE CHECKED ALL THE ENGINE CONTROLS AND GAGES INCLUDING THE TWO HEADER FUEL PUMPS, AND THEY WERE ALL OPERATING NORMALLY. THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY LOST POWER AND HE MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE MANEUVERING, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AT ABOUT 20 TO 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE FUEL FILTER BETWEEN THE MAIN TANK AND THE HEADER FUEL TANK WAS CONTAMINATED WITH FIBERGLASS DUST.
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
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,329 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen VW (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HAO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from LUK, 1 miles away
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.
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.