# NTSB DEN83FTE01: J.A.Mullan Dragonfly, N21SH, Erie, CO, October 26, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1982, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Erie, CO
- Coordinates: 40.020252, -105.039321 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0203&lon=-105.0393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70612
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTE01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70612/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTE01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, approach
- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ON A FLIGHT TO ACCUMULATE FLIGHT TIME ON A HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT. A MAYDAY CALL WAS RECEIVED ON THE UNICOM. SEVERAL WITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PLANE ENTERED A LEFT BANK. AND SUDDENLY CRASHED. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLANE STALLED AND/OR SPUN INTO THE GROUND. NONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED, IT BEGAN BURING AND MOST OF IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT DESTROYED REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N21SH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: J.A.MULLAN DRAGONFLY
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 128
- Airframe hours: 20
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN 1835CC 55 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: J.A. Mullan
- Registered owner: J.A. Mullan
- Departed: 48V, ERIE, CO
- Destination: 48V, ERIE, CO
- Airport: 48V, Tri-County, runway 33, 5,280 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 130 total, 20 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 122 °F

## 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 19821026056429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821026056429A), Oct 26, 1982: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Erie, CO, Destroyed. Lost altitude turning base for a emergency landing. Airplane burned after impact. Suspect carburetor problem.

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.

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