# NTSB GAA18CA306: Lite Flight Dragonfly, N582DF, Mint Hill, NC, May 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 27, 2018, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mint Hill, NC - Coordinates: 35.184722, -80.606941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1847&lon=-80.6069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97345 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97345/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97345 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA306 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05902QK), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902QK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05902QK), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05902QK), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902QK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while maneuvering about 1,300 ft mean sea level (about 600 ft above the ground), he initiated a 180° right turn, and about halfway through the turn, the airplane began to descend rapidly and would not respond to flight controls. The airplane struck a tree, spun to the right, and came to rest on a residential house. Postaccident examination conducted by the pilot revealed that all controls were intact and operational. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. In a written statement provided to the local police department, the pilot reported that he lost control of the airplane, and it "spiraled down" and then struck a tree and a house. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Given the pilot's statement, it is likely that the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall/spin when the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack during a turn. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while maneuvering about 1,300 ft mean sea level (about 600 ft above ground), he initiated a 180° turn to the right when about halfway through the turn, the airplane began to descend rapidly and would not respond to flight controls. The airplane struck a tree, spun to the right, and came to rest on a residential house. Postaccident examination, conducted by the pilot, revealed that all controls were intact and operational. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. In a written statement provided to the local police department, the pilot reported that he lost control of the airplane and it "spiraled down" and then struck a tree and a house. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N582DF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582DF), registered now, S/N 82, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LITE FLIGHT DRAGONFLY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bailey B DRAGON FLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/bailey-b-dragon-fly) (registry code 05902QK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ul) (registry code 55558, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 82 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 730 - Engines: ROTAX 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 15, 2017 - Departed: 28A, Indian Trail, NC - Destination: 28A, Indian Trail, NC - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KEQY, 10 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 20180527015089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180527015089A), May 27, 2018: Bailey B DRAGON FLY, Mint Hill, NC, Destroyed. Aircraft departed 28A for a local flight. Pilot stated in telephone interview that the takeoff and climb was normal and that the aircraft was performing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97345. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Written Statement to Police (item 2, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement%20to%20Police-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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.