Amateur-built FOKKER DR-1 REPLICA accident near Denton, Texas, November 2, 1985
On November 2, 1985 at about 11:04 pm local time, a amateur-built FOKKER DR-1 REPLICA, registered N152DR, was destroyed in an accident near Denton, Texas (Hartlee Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 2, 1985 · about 11:04 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Hartlee Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FOKKER DR-1 REPLICA FOKKER DR-
- Registration
- N152DR · no longer on the register · serial 152-17
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS MAKING HIS FOURTH FLY-BY AT 400 FEET AGL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE. HE THEN LOWERED THE NOSE AND GAINED AIRSPEED FOR RECOVERY. WHILE LEVELING OFF HE HAD TO TURN LEFT TO AVOID IMPACT WITH A SMALL TREE. AT THIS TIME THE LEFT LOWER WINGTIP CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE CRASH OCCURRED. GROUND FIRE ERUPTED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 891 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 21, 1985; 15 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner WARNER MDL165 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1F3 Denton TX at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 1F3 Denton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.