Moore B-8MJ N4874X

Summary

On 15 June 1998 at about 01:06 local time, a Moore B-8MJ registered N4874X, operated by Lloyd A. Milligan, was involved in an accident near Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 1998 at 01:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Pauls Valley Municipal (F61)

Coordinates

34.7199, -97.2198

Aircraft

Moore B-8MJ

Registration

N4874X

Category

Gyrocraft

Engines

1

Operator

Lloyd A. Milligan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA263

1 person died.

The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the hangar. A factor was the pilot's maneuvering at a low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the pilot flying the gyroplane around the airport at a 'low altitude' for about 30-35 minutes, and then land. The pilot made adjustments to the rotor head trim and then took off again. The witnesses reported that the pilot 'did a lot of very low flying between hangars, [and] never got over 15-20 feet high.' A witness reported that the pilot made another low pass over them close to the north end of a hangar. The pilot then flew down the NW runway and to the west out of their view. When the aircraft returned from the west, it was about 10 to 12 feet agl. As the aircraft came around the hangar, a rotor blade struck the hangar door support, separating the rotor blade from the aircraft. The gyroplane came to rest inverted. The pilot was wearing a helmet; however, the strap did not have a buckle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.