Amateur-built DRAGONFLY accident near Okmulgee, Oklahoma, August 23, 1985
On August 23, 1985 at about 2:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY, registered N45CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Okmulgee, Oklahoma (Okmulgee Munic. 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 23, 1985 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Okmulgee, Oklahoma · Okmulgee Munic. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N45CJ · no longer on the register · serial 545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BOUNCED 3 TIMES DURING A LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE FAILED TO PREDUCE FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER THE 3RD BOUNCE THE RT CANARD BROKE OFF AT THE FUSELAGE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE BLOCKED BY SOME TYPE OF RESIDUE.
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: 410 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 313 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1985; 8 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hapi 60-2DM (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OKM Okmulgee OK at 1:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.