# NTSB CHI94DCJ01: Mustari Dragonfly Mark II, N3147B, Scottsbluff, NE, June 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: June 24, 1994, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Scottsbluff, NE - Location: 41.8883° N, 103.5923° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from SCOTTSBLUFF/WESTERN NEBRASKA RGNL/WM B HEILIG FLD (BFF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8883&lon=-103.5923&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9338 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94DCJ01 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9338/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94DCJ01 ## Probable cause the private pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. A related factor is the high density altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, climb - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED DURING DEPARTURE THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE REACHED ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND WOULDN'T CLIMB ANY FURTHER. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES AND CAME TO REST IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE WAS 92 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRPORT ELEVATION IS 3,965 FEET. HE STATED HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT 'BY RESTRICTING MY FLIGHTS TO LOWER ELEVATION AIRPORTS WHEN TEMP. IS ABOVE 90 DEGREES.' ## Factual narrative On June 24, 1994, at 1700 mountain daylight time, a Mustari Dragonfly Mark II, N3147B, piloted by the private pilot/owner, sustained substantial damage when it struck power lines while maneuvering after takeoff from the William B. Heilig Airport, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was originating from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with an intended destination of Hastings, Nebraska. The pilot stated he flew to Scottsbluff to visit his mother in the hospital. He arrived about midday, and had the airplane topped off with 100LL fuel. It was about 1650 when the pilot attempted to depart the Scottsbluff airport. He stated: "Aircraft ascended to about 150 - 200 feet AGL and would no longer climb. Because of rising terrain I decided to turn back to the airport. I knew I would lose altitude on my turn...Once I got turned around I was looking at two sets of power lines...." The airplane struck the first set of power lines and came to rest in a soybean field. The pilot stated the airport elevation was 3,965 feet, the temperature was 92 degrees Fahrenheit, and density altitude had decreased the airplanes performance. He stated there was no mechanical malfunction, and indicated he could have prevented the accident "...by restricting my flights to lower elevation airports when temp. is above 90 [degrees]." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3147B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3147B-1995-02-01), registration cancelled 1995-02-01, S/N 225 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MUSTARI DRAGONFLY MARK II (DRAGONFLY) - Registry model: [Mustari Nick J DRAGONFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/mustari-nick-j-dragonfly) (registry code 05647RN) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 225 - Airframe hours: 169 - Engines: Unknown 71 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fowler, Kevin A. - Registered owner: Fowler, Kevin A. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 27, 1993, 69 hours before - Destination: HSI, HASTINGS, NE - Airport: BFF, William B. Heilig Field, runway 30, 8,280 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 605 total, 100 in this make and model, 562 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BFF, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940624016719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940624016719A), Jun 24, 1994: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Scottsbluff, NE, Substantial damage. Unable to climb on takeoff. Struck wires turning back. 7000 feet density altitude and 92 degree temperature factors 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. --- 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.