Amateur-built DRAGAN accident near Gilbert, Arizona, May 7, 1983
On May 7, 1983 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGAN, registered N3225D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilbert, Arizona (Ultralight CO Flt Park 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
- May 7, 1983 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbert, Arizona · Ultralight CO Flt Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGAN
- Registration
- N3225D · no longer on the register · serial 173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT/OWNER HAD ASSEMBLED THE ACFT FROM A KIT APRX 1 YR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH BRAKES. WHEN HE RETURNED TO LAND AT THE ULTRALIGHT FLT PARK, HE DECIDED TO MAKE A LOW, SHORT FINAL APCH TO DECREASE THE STOPPAGE DISTANCE. NEAR THE APCH END OF THE RWY, THERE WAS A PERPENDICULAR ROAD THAT WAS ELEVATED 3 TO 4 FT ABOVE THE LANDING AREA. THE PLT STATED THAT THE NOSE WHEEL IMPACTED THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD, ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES FROM THE TOP. AFTER HITTING THE ROAD, THE ACFT BOUNCED UPWARDS, STALLED & IMPACTED ON THE RWY, COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT THEN GROUND LOOPED & COLLAPSED THE MAIN GEAR. THE WIND WAS REPORTEDLY FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 TO 10 KTS.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 25 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1983; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 540 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 30RD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 800 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.