Goliad County Industrial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Berclair, Texas 77963
Saturday, April 19, 2008 17:49 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The amateur built gyrocopter was substantially damaged upon collision with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident. The gyrocopter impacted a flat open field and had come to rest on its right side. There was no evidence of a post crash fire. Control continuity was established to all flight and engine controls. All major components were accounted for at the accident site. Damage to the propeller was consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. The reason for the loss of control could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1749
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Berclair
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77963
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 283630N
Event Location Longitude 0973634W
Event Location Airport Goliad County Industrial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7T3
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 324
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1746 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 213
Weather Observation Facility ID KBEA
Elevation of weather observation facility 268
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 24777
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2008 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94470
NTSB Number DFW08LA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BLEVENS GARY
Aircraft Model VORTEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 056
Certified Max Gross Weight 760
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLEVENS GARY L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 142 PENNSULA DR
Aircraft Owner City MATHIS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78368-4187
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name BLEVENS GARY L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 142 PENNSULA DR
Operator City MATHIS
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78368-4187
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code 7T3
Departure City Berclair
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2008 2:00PM
User who most recently changed record lebt
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --