Amateur-built Dragonfly accident near Mulino, Oregon, November 23, 2002
On November 23, 2002 at about 8:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Dragonfly, registered N2448, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mulino, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel starvation of the engine while in cruise flight due to the owner/builder's alteration of the fuel system from that shown in the aircrafts plans. Factors include very rough terrain in the area where the pilot found it necessary to make his forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2002 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mulino, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Dragonfly
- Registration
- N2448 · registry record · serial 2000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental aircraft, was conducting a local personal pleasure flight when the aircraft's engine suddenly lost power. Because he was unable to get the aircraft restarted, the pilot elected to attempt a forced landing in a nearby field. During the attempted landing, the aircraft encountered very rough terrain and sustained substantial damage. Although an initial inspection of the aircraft disclosed no anomalies or malfunctions in the engine, it was later determined that the pilot had altered the fuel system from that shown in the aircraft plans. That alteration created a situation where the engine was starved of fuel when the pilot turned on the electric fuel pump that transferred fuel to the header tank from a line downstream of the gascolator.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2002; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hapi 60-20M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4S9 Mulino OR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 4S9 Mulino OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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.