- Date
- May 16, 1993, 12:03 local (16:03 UTC)
- Place
- Hamilton, OH
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N32TMeador Dragonfly SP
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930516014009A
- Case key
- 11948
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate inspection of the fuel filter, which resulted in subsequent loss on engine power due to fuel contamination, and his failure to maintian adequate airspeed while maneuvering to land in an open field, which resulted on an inadvertent stall.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he had made some changes to the homebuilt airplane's engine, so he decided to check the effects of the changes. According to him, the oil temperature was better than the day before, so he continued flying towards his home. He stated that en route, the engine 'started to miss.' He stated that he checked all the engine controls and gages including the two header fuel pumps, and they were all operating normally. The engine eventually lost power and he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field. The pilot stated that while maneuvering, the airplane stalled at about 20 to 25 feet above the ground. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuel filter between the main tank and the header fuel tank was contaminated with fiberglass dust.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N32T
- Reported as
- Meador Dragonfly SP (DRAGONFLY)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Engine
- Volkswagen VW, 76 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- William R Meador
- Registered owner
- William R Meador
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1993
- Destination
- HAO
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 96 total · 5 in this make and model · 56 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LUK, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.