Unknown DRAGONFLY B UNREG

Summary

On 23 June 2001 at about 22:54 local time, a Unknown DRAGONFLY B registered UNREG, operated by Florida Ridge Soaring Center, was involved in an accident near LaBelle, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2001 at 22:54

Classification

Accident

Location

LaBelle, Florida, United States

Coordinates

26.6394, -81.3406

Aircraft

Unknown DRAGONFLY B

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Florida Ridge Soaring Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

LaBelle → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01LA170

2 people died.

The inadvertent stall/spin by the pilot resulting in an uncontrolled descent and impact with the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed for the purpose of observing the ground where an event for the South Florida Free Flight Association was planned. A witness reported that the flight returned after being airborne about 10 minutes and appeared to be on approach to land. The airplane was observed to be in a right bank and, "apparently stalled and went into a spin. At that time, they were approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile east to the East of me, and at approximately 300 feet of altitude. They did not recover from the spin, and the plane hit the ground nose first." The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration though it was required to be based on the purpose of the flight and the number of seats installed. Examination of the airplane after recovery revealed no evidence of airframe, engine, or flight control preimpact failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.