Mcalister Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Baytown, Texas 77520
Saturday, July 23, 1988 13:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TAKEOFF AND TURN RIGHT CROSSWIND. DRNG THE CROSSWIND, THE RPM INCREASED SUDDENLY. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE DOWNWARDS, IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A VERTICAL DESCENT AND BURNED. THE PLT/BUILDER HAD A TOTAL OF 5 HRS IN THE NEW ACFT. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT STRUCTURAL, ROTOR, OR SYSTEM FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE KITS FOR THE ACFT INDICATED THAT THE ACFT IS EASY TO OVERCONTROL AND CAN LEAD TO PORPOISING WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO CORRECT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1988
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City BAYTOWN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77520
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MCALISTER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID HOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1800
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1241
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37333
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91359
NTSB Number FTW88DRA15
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR COMMAND
Aircraft Model ELITE 532
Aircraft Series Identifier ELITE 532
Aircraft Serial Number 3672167
Certified Max Gross Weight 850
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 Oct 7 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 5
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLENS, ROBERT L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 313 BATTLE BELL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City HIGHLANDS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77562
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT L. GLENS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 313 BATTLE BELL
Operator City HIGHLANDS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77520
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1343
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 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 16
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --