Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hansen, Idaho 83334
Thursday, January 11, 1990 13:42 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SALES DEMO FLIGHT IN THE UNCERTIFICATED GYROPLANE, PERFORMING MANEUVERS AT A LOW ALTITUDE. HE MADE A LOW PASS AT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AND INITIATED A STEEP ANGLE, MAXIMUM RATE CLIMB TO APPROX 50 FEET. THE ACFT SPUN TO THE RIGHT, ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE, DESCENDED VERTIALLY AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE UNLICENSED PILOT HAD ABOUT 23 HOURS FLIGHT TIME.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILUE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE GYROCOPTER AFTER ENTERING AN ABRUPT PULL-UP FROM A LOW PASS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES, HIS LACK OF CERTIFICATION (QUALIFICATION) FOR THIS FLIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF FLYING EXPERIENCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/11/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1342
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City HANSEN
Event State IDAHO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83334
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1405 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 235
Weather Observation Facility ID TWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 4150
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 3530
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 371
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 11 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41306
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number SEA90LA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name STANGER
Aircraft Model AIRCOMMANDER 532
Aircraft Series Identifier AIRCOMMAND
Aircraft Serial Number 0572
Certified Max Gross Weight 750
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 14
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRESTON E. STANGER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 623 APACHE WAY
Aircraft Owner City TWIN FALLS
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83301
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1325
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --