# NTSB FTW88DRG03: Herman Dragonfly, N5303H, New Braunfels, TX, November 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1987, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: New Braunfels, TX
- Coordinates: 29.700176, -98.110275 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7002&lon=-98.1103&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22508
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRG03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22508/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRG03

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE EXPERIMENTAL, HOME BUILT, AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS MAIDEN FLIHT. THE PILOT STATED HE INTENDED TO FLY THE PATTERN FOR A CHECK-OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HOPED TO GAIN ALTITUDE EARLY TO PERMIT RETURNING TO THE FIELD IN CASE OF AN ENGINE FAILURE BUT INSTEAD STALLED THE AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5303H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HERMAN DRAGONFLY
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 086
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: Volkswagen 1800 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Marcellus H. Herman
- Registered owner: Marcellus H Herman
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, June 24, 1987, 1 hours before
- Airport: 3R5, New Braunfels, runway 4, 5,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 342 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19871106062379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871106062379A), Nov 6, 1987: Amtr DRAGONFLY, New Braunfels, TX, Destroyed. On first test flight over rotated and stalled. Caught a wing on the ground and cartwheeled.

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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