Amateur-built EAGLE II accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1982
On April 29, 1982 at about 10:48 pm local time, a amateur-built EAGLE II, registered N3DY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster 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
- April 29, 1982 · about 10:48 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Lancaster · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAGLE II
- Registration
- N3DY · registry record · serial Y-0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 31, THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO AN AREA WHERE HE PERFORMED INVERTED FLIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND A DIME THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN THE COCKPIT. DURING HIS DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL, HE AND A TOWER CONTROLLER DISCUSSED AND JOKED ABOUT LOOKING FOR THE LOST DIME. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 26. WHILE ROLLING OUT, THE TOWER CONTROLLER KIDDED THE PILOT BY SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SILVER SKIPPING IN FRONT OF THE PLANE, THEN COMMENTED ABOUT GOOD VISION. THE PILOT RESPONDED, AND LATER, HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE TOWER CAUTION HIM OF EQUIPMENT ON THE TAXIWAY. THE EQUIPMENT WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY BETWEEN RUNWAYS 26 AND 31. WHILE TAXIING, THE PILOT'S FORWARD VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHICH REQUIRED S-TURNS FOR CLEARING. GROUND CONTROL CLEARED THE PILOT TO CROSS RUNWAY 31, BUT INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DELAY SINCE THERE WAS TRAFFIC. THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAXI WITHOUT S-TURNS AND THE PLANES RIGHT WING HIT THE EQUIPMENT.
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: 1,072 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 991 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 34 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-AID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lancaster PA at 6:38 pm
- Destination: Lancaster PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 250 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 138°F (59°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.
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.