Amateur-built DRAGONFLY accident near Silver City, New Mexico, July 15, 1995
On July 15, 1995 at about 4:40 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGONFLY, registered N826DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Silver City, New Mexico (Grant County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT INCAPACITATION DUE TO A HEART ATTACK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1995 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Silver City, New Mexico · Grant County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGONFLY
- Registration
- N826DB · no longer on the register · serial 334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO INCREASE ITS ANGLE OF DESCENT AND CRASH 240 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY INTO THE APPROACH LIGHTS. AFTER GOING THROUGH FIVE ROWS OF LIGHTS, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE GROUND NEXT TO A TAXIWAY. THE FIRST PERSONS ON THE SCENE FOUND THE PILOT SLUMPED OVER IN THE COCKPIT WITH NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF INJURY, AND EFFORTS AT RESUSCITATION WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT HAD A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED AN ADVANCED GENERALIZED ARTERIOSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, BUT NO LETHAL INJURIES. HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE ISSUED 5/17/93 HAD EXPIRED.
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: 120 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SVC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 6,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from DMN, 37 miles away
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.