Amateur-built DRAGONFLY accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 11, 1993
On April 11, 1993 at about 4:19 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY, registered N48RV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Carlsbad 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 IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY FROM THE MOUNT
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1993 · about 4:19 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · Carlsbad · 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
- N48RV · no longer on the register · serial 166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE PILOT APPLIED AFT PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY. WITH THE AFT PRESSURE APPLIED THE CONTROL STICK ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM ITS NORMAL MOUNTING POSITION AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. THE CONTROL STICK AND PISTOL GRIP WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RETENTION LOCKING DEVICE. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY REMOVED THE STICK IN ORDER TO INSTALL A PUSH TO TALK SWITCH FOR HIS RADIO. WHEN HE REINSTALLED THE STICK HE NOTED THAT IT WAS LOOSE, SO HE WRAPPED IT WITH HEAVY TAPE IN AN EFFORT TO SECURE IT
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: 133 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1992; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835 CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATS Artisia NM at 3:45 pm
- Destination: CNM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,830 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N48RV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.