Amateur-built Dragonfly Mark II accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, October 30, 2009
On October 30, 2009 at about 11:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Dragonfly Mark II, registered N555RX, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The CFI's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2009 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Dragonfly Mark II
- Registration
- N555RX · no longer on the register · serial 516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) requested to remain in the traffic pattern and received a clearance for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered off the runway into a dirt area adjacent to the pavement and collided with a runway light, sheering a portion of its canard. The airplane bounced down the surface, eventually becoming airborne, and reaching about 200 feet above ground level. The Air Traffic Controller advised the airplane to climb, as it was approaching power lines. The CFI configured the airplane in a right bank and it collided with a utility pole. This was the CFI's first experience in the accident make and model airplane and the CFI did not hold a current medical certificate. In a written statement, the student pilot who owned the airplane reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 183 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,225 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax UNKN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT Las Vegas NV at 11:40 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from VGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.