Magnolia Municpal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Magnolia, Arkansas 71753
Friday, June 13, 2003 20:12 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated the gyrocopter sustained substantial damage during a forced landing while he was attempting to give a ride to the passenger. The pilot emptied fuel from the right tank to adjust for the passenger's weight. After becoming airborne, the gyrocopter rolled to the right. The pilot then attempted a forced landing, during which the gyrocopter rolled approximately 10 feet then struck a drainage ditch in a grassy area off the runway. The pilot stated "This wreck could have been prevented by just saying I'm sorry but I think you weigh too much for me to give you a ride."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate weight a balance calculations and inadequate preflight planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2012
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Magnolia
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 71753
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331441N
Event Location Longitude 0931301W
Event Location Airport Magnolia Municpal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AGO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 317
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID ELD
Elevation of weather observation facility 277
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
Density Altitude (feet) 1689
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15082
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Little Rock FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4381G
NTSB Number CHI03LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name McCulloch
Aircraft Model J-2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 091
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 22 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17.5
Airframe Hours 149.5
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Virgil Jones & Jim Law
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3961 Columbia 7
Aircraft Owner City Emerson
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71740
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Virgil William Jones
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3961 Columbia 7
Operator City Emerson
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 71740
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 AGO
Departure City Magnolia
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AGO
Destination City Magnolia
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2004 2:04PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4610
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --