Eugene Wells DRAGON FLY-B N5023G

Summary

On 13 November 2018 at about 20:30 local time, a Eugene Wells DRAGON FLY-B registered N5023G was involved in an accident near Kailua/Kona, Hawaii, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 November 2018 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kailua/Kona, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Ellison Onizuka Kona Intl At K (KOA)

Coordinates

19.7369, -156.0431

Aircraft

Eugene Wells DRAGON FLY-B

Registration

N5023G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kailua/Kona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA059

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a crosswind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes for which he did not have an endorsement.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the approach, there was "heavy traffic" behind his airplane and a right crosswind. He added that, during a wheel landing, he tried to "maintain speed" to clear the runway, but the airplane began to "fishtail." He added power to regain control, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest in a "lava field." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that the accident was due to pilot error because of his lack of experience in the airplane. He added that he did not have a tailwheel endorsement and had a total of only 3 flight hours experience in tailwheel airplanes with a flight instructor. The airport’s automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 220° at 9 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 17.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.