Amateur-built DRAGON FLY accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, September 26, 1991
On September 26, 1991 at about 4:37 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGON FLY, registered N226JM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
UNDETERMINED. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1991 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGON FLY
- Registration
- N226JM · registry record · serial 63
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING WHAT THE PILOT STATED WAS TAXI TESTS, THE AIRCRAFT INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE. WITH OVER 4500 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLYING. APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER MILE UP WIND FROM THE RUNWAY END, THE ENGINE OUTPUT DETERIORATED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FRESHLY PLOWER FIELD. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.
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: 200 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN91LA133.