Hello Backcountry Pilots,
I'm down here in Louisiana for a couple weeks flying helicopters. Anyway I found an airplane wreckage today that had been there a while. It's located in a swamp just south of the Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana Airport. My plan is to run the tail number next week out of curiosity mainly, and was surprised that the wreckage was never removed.

There are deer stands about every couple hundred yards here in Southern Louisiana. In two weeks of low level helicopter flying I have not seen a deer yet? I did see some wild boar and a few turkey. Looking forward to getting back home to the Northwest.

James

Here James, this is it!


NTSB Identification: FTW04LA196.
The docket is stored in the Docket Management System (DMS). Please contact Records Management Division
Accident occurred Friday, July 23, 2004 in Covington, LA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 1/24/2005
Aircraft: Everett Vidrine Dragonfly, registration: N89VE
Injuries: 2 Minor.
Prior to departure, the pilot topped off the fuel tanks. The pilot indicated the takeoff roll "used alot of runway." Shortly after takeoff, the airplane impacted trees near the end of the runway, and came to rest south of the airport. The pilot stated the airplane did not climb due to a high density altitude. In addition, the pilot stated there were no anomalies with the engine or airframe. The elevation at the airport was 39 feet msl and the density altitude was calculated to 1,764 feet.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which failed to assure adequate takeoff performance for the airplane to clear obstacles. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.

Avgas,
Thanks for the information. I also found an electronic marine buoy and parachute intended for the gulf of Mexico in a cyprus tree in the same area a week prior, and got a reward.

James

It is funny they could just leave it there? You would think it would have to be removed.

Ever seen a dragonfly? They are a funky looking plane. Our Community College is building one right now.



Time to re assess your engine package if you can't get off the ground in an 1800ft Density Altitude I'm thinkin...

Since when is 1,764 feet density altitude a problem?

Maybe somebody in one of those deerstands gave that Dragonfly a shot of Deet on it's way by?

Maybe Boudreau said to Bubba, "Hey ya'll, watch this!" And the rest is history.....lol

I found a bunch of airplanes that have been there a time. Do you think they will sell me one?

http://www.bing.com/maps/Default.aspx?v=2&cp=pbrqjx5rxm2t&scene=40756536&lvl=2&sty=b.

Zona wrote:I found a bunch of airplanes that have been there a time. Do you think they will sell me one?

http://www.bing.com/maps/Default.aspx?v=2&cp=pbrqjx5rxm2t&scene=40756536&lvl=2&sty=b.

Sell you one? You already own them! They were bought and paid for with your tax dollars. They should just give us each one. It's truly a crime that they are going to end up being destroyed.