Amateur-built DRAGON FLY accident near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, August 2, 1984
On August 2, 1984 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGON FLY, registered N83WH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Eau Clarie County airport). 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
- August 2, 1984 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin · Eau Clarie County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 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
WITNESSES OBSERVED ACFT TOUCHDOWN LEFT MAIN GEAR FIRST AND BOUNCE TWICE BEFORE REMAINING ON THE RWY. THE LEFT CONARD COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE LANDING GEAR IS ATTACHED AT CANARD TIP ON THIS MAKE/MODEL.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,075 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1600 CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 7,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from EAU
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.