# Accident 20020718016569A: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Tucson, AZ, July 18, 2002 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 18, 2002, 09:50 local time - Place: Tucson, AZ - Airport: Tucson International - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 32.1161° N, 110.9411° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1161&lon=-110.9411&mi=10 - Aircraft: N48RV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48RV-2017-03-21) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Violet Bob W DRAGONFLY (registry code 05644GF, https://openairdocs.org/model/violet-bob-w-dragonfly) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR DRAGONFLY - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA230) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020718016569A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JULY 18, 2002, ABOUT 0950 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A VIOLET DRAGONFLY, N48RV, DEPARTED FROM CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND IMPACTED TERRAIN ON APPROACH TO THE TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE HOMEBUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE PRIVATE PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM NEAR EL PASO, TEXAS, ABOUT 2.8 HOURS EARLIER, APPROXIMATELY 0800 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR THAT WHILE HE WAS PROCEEDING ON THE DOWNWIND LEG TO RUNWAY 11R, HE HAD OBSERVED A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD80 AIRPLANE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11L. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE EXTENDED HIS DOWNWIND LEG TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL SEPARATION BETWEEN HIS AIRPLANE AND THE MD80. THE MD80 PROCEEDED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 11L. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE PROCEEDED INBOUND TO RUNWAY 11R AND DESCENDED TO ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AT THAT ALTITUDE, HIS AIRPLANE SUDDENLY ROLLED INTO A NEAR VERTICAL LEFT BANK. THEREAFTER, CONTROL WAS LOST, THE PITCH ATTITUDE DECREASED, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE EXPERIENCED WITH THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM DURING THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE BELIEVES HE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE MD. TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OPERATIONS PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE IMPACT SITE WAS ABOUT 340 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. QUALITY ASSURANCE PERSONNEL FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE HAD BEEN CAUTIONED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ENCOUNTERING WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE MD80. AT 0955, THE LOCAL SURFACE WIND WAS REPORTED AT 030 DEGREES AND 7 KNOTS. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING OT ENTER FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 11R AT TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHEN IT ENTERED THE VORTEX GENERATED BY AN MD-80 AIRCRAFT THAT HAD JUST LANDED ON THE PARALLEL RUNWAY. THIS VORTEX CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO RAPIDLY DESCEND IN A LEFT TURNING MANNER CAUSING IT TO IMPACT THE GROUND JUST LEFT OF RUNWAY 11R. ATC DID ADVISE THE AIRCRAFT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TURBULENCE FROM THE MD-80. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX02LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA230), Jul 18, 2002: Violet Dragonfly (N48RV), Tucson, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control resulting from his improperly planned approach and an inadvertent encounter with wake turbulence. ## Other reports on N48RV (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19930411008799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930411008799A), Apr 11, 1993: Amtr DRAGONFLY (N48RV), Carlsbad, NM, Substantial damage. Hard landing on recovery. Piston grip separated from stick. Lost control. Right canard spar broke on ensuing impact From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.