Brandon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brandon, Florida 33511
Monday, March 12, 1990 16:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE GYROPLANE PILOT HAD JUST MADE A JUMP TAKEOFF & HAD ONLY 20 KTS, WHEN SHE SAW WIRES AHEAD. SHE INITIATED A STEEP TURN AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THE GYROPLANE LOST ALTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN ON UNEVEN TERRAIN & ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: WIRE(S) NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BRANDON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33511
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BRANDON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X18
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 45
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 22
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 44
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40542
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6158S
NTSB Number MIA90LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR & SPACE
Aircraft Model 18-A
Aircraft Series Identifier 18-A
Aircraft Serial Number 18-69
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 9 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 194
Airframe Hours 379
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FARRINGTON AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2408 BREWER RD.
Aircraft Owner City CHOCTAW
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73020
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ATES, JOYCE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2408 BREWER RD.
Operator City CHOCTAW
Operator State OK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 73020
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code X18
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1429
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code X181
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 18
Runway Length 3335
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --