# NTSB DFW08CA203: Collard Dragonfly, N793TW, Big Sping, TX, August 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2008, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Big Sping, TX - Coordinates: 32.212501, -101.525001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2125&lon=-101.5250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68652/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA203 ## Probable cause Loss of aircraft control due to inadvertent penetration of a dust devil. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Colorado Aerosports DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=05904F0), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Colorado Aerosports DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=05904F0), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Colorado Aerosports DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904F0), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Colorado Aerosports DRAGONFLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904F0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported departing the airport in "challenging wind and [thermal] conditions." An automated weather reporting facility on the airport reported winds 50 degrees from runway heading at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. After six successful touch-and-gos, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a seventh approach. While turning base to final the pilot experienced a loss of aircraft control and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that dust devils were "prevalent in the area at that time." ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported departing the airport in "challenging wind and [thermal] conditions." An automated weather reporting facility on the airport reported winds 50 degrees from runway heading at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. After six successful touch-and-gos, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a seventh approach. While turning base to final the pilot experienced a loss of aircraft control and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that dust devils were "prevalent in the area at that time." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N793TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N793TW), registered now, S/N 089, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Collard Dragonfly - Registry model: [Colorado Aerosports DRAGONFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/colorado-aerosports-dragonfly) (registry code 05904F0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 583](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-583) (registry code 55577, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 089 - Airframe hours: 64 - Engines: Hirth 3701 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Colorado Aerosports LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 1, 2007 - Departed: BPG, Big Sping, TX - Airport: BPG, Big Spring Mc Mahon-Wrinkle, runway 17R, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 630 total, 39 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: BPG ## 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 20080804841669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080804841669A), Aug 4, 2008: Amtr DRAGONFLY, Big Spring, TX, Substantial damage. (-23)On August 4, 2008, at approximately 1635 CDT, the pilot of N793TW, a Dragonfly experimental aircraft, attempted a short approach over the field at Big… 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.