Amateur-built DICKEY E-RACER accident near Elko, Nevada, July 3, 1994
On July 3, 1994 at about 7:16 pm local time, a amateur-built DICKEY E-RACER, registered N99G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a fatigue fracture and separation of the propeller flange from an improperly machined propeller extension assembly. Inadequate design, substantiation, and approval of the part design was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1994 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DICKEY E-RACER DICKEY E-R
- Registration
- N99G · registry record · serial 5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN CRUISE, THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH HIGH VEGETATION AND ROUGH TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE PROPELLER EXTENSION ASSEMBLY AT THE PROPELLER FLANGE. THE PROPELLER AND THE ATTACHED FLANGE WERE NOT RECOVERED. THE PROPELLER EXTENSION ASSEMBLY IS A BARREL-SHAPED MACHINED ALUMINUM PART WITH FLANGES ON EACH END OF THE BARREL, ONE FOR CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT AND ONE FOR CONNECTION TO THE PROPELLER. THE PROPELLER FLANGE FRACTURED AWAY FROM THE BARREL AT A RADIUS FORMED BETWEEN THE BARREL AND THE FLANGE. BEACH MARKINGS WERE OBSERVED EMANATING FROM A POINT ON THE SURFACE AT THE RADIUS WITH BEACH MARKS ABOUT 1/2 ACROSS THE BARREL WALL. A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE AIRCRAFT OWNER NOTED THAT THE RADIUS BETWEEN THE BARREL AND THE FLANGE WAS MEASURED AT BETWEEN 1/8 AND 3/32 OF AN INCH, WITH FLAT SPOTS AND SCORING NOTED. THE PROPELLER EXTENSION ASSEMBLY WAS NOT MANUFACTURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PARTS MANUFACTURING OR TYPE CERTIFICATE APPROVAL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,843 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,485 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 73 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1993; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06U Jackpot NV at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.