Amateur-built DRAGON FLY accident near Burley, Idaho, June 28, 1985
On June 28, 1985 at about 1:35 pm local time, a amateur-built DRAGON FLY, registered N935AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burley, Idaho (Burley airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 28, 1985 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DRAGON FLY
- Registration
- N935AB · no longer on the register · serial 8
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE NOSE OF THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN DESPITE THE APPLICATION OF AFT ELEVATOR PRESSURE. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE RWY AND BOUNCED. THE PLT THEN REDUCED PWR AND THE ACFT ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED THE RWY NOSE FIRST BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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: 379 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,075 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BYI Burley ID at 1:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 4,034 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from BYI
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.