Amateur-built DRAGONFLY MARK II accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, June 24, 1994
On June 24, 1994 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY MARK II, registered N3147B, was destroyed in an accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska (William B. Heilig Field). It was a personal flight 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 private pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. A related factor is the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1994 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska · William B. Heilig Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY MARK II DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N3147B · no longer on the register · serial 225
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED DURING DEPARTURE THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE REACHED ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND WOULDN'T CLIMB ANY FURTHER. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES AND CAME TO REST IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE WAS 92 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRPORT ELEVATION IS 3,965 FEET. HE STATED HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT 'BY RESTRICTING MY FLIGHTS TO LOWER ELEVATION AIRPORTS WHEN TEMP. IS ABOVE 90 DEGREES.'
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: 605 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 562 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 169 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 27, 1993; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,075 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: HSI Hastings NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 8,280 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from BFF, 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.