Amateur-built DRAGONFLY DH-90 accident near Sellersburg, Indiana, September 22, 1987
On September 22, 1987 at about 5:40 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY DH-90, registered N190DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sellersburg, Indiana (Clark CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- September 22, 1987 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sellersburg, Indiana · Clark CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY DH-90 DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N190DH · no longer on the register · serial 7516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT BEGAN LEFT DRIFT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. PILOT CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER, AND AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY RIGHT. AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND TO APPLICATION OF LEFT RUDDER OR INCREASED THRUST FROM RIGHT ENGINE; DEPARTED RUNWAY AND CRASHED INTO DRAINAGE DITCH. PILOT NEVER ATTEMPTED TO ABORT TAKEOFF. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING INNER AND OUTER BUSHINGS HAD BEEN INTERCHANGED ALLOWING THE BRAKE/BACKING PLATE ASSEMBLY TO BIND ON THE WHEEL/DRUM ASSEMBLY. THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BEEN REPACKED ON THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, 20 OPERATING HOURS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,370 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 4,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1987; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: De Havilland 10 MK.1-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JVY IN at 6:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N190DH 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.