Amateur-built Dragonfly accident near Covington, Louisiana, July 23, 2004
On July 23, 2004 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Dragonfly, registered N89VE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Covington, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which failed to assure adequate takeoff performance for the airplane to clear obstacles. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2004 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Covington, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Dragonfly
- Registration
- N89VE · no longer on the register · serial 906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot topped off the fuel tanks. The pilot indicated the takeoff roll "used alot of runway." Shortly after takeoff, the airplane impacted trees near the end of the runway, and came to rest south of the airport. The pilot stated the airplane did not climb due to a high density altitude. In addition, the pilot stated there were no anomalies with the engine or airframe. The elevation at the airport was 39 feet msl and the density altitude was calculated to 1,764 feet.
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
- Last flight review: December 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L31 Covington LA at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ASD, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.