Vanek SPORT COPTER N61887
24 July 1999 · Scappoose, Oregon, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 24 July 1999 at about 19:10 local time, a Vanek SPORT COPTER registered N61887 was involved in an accident near Scappoose, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Scappoose, Oregon, United States
- Nearest airport
- Scappoose Industrial
- Coordinates
- 45.8007, -122.9693
- Aircraft
- Vanek SPORT COPTER
- Registration
- N61887
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA99LA129
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of the ultralight operator to see and avoid the landing gyroplane, and the gyroplane pilot's inability to see the departing ultralight vehicle.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A witness observed the gyroplane on final approach to land on the taxiway. When the gyroplane was about 200-250 feet high on final, the witness saw a high-wing ultralight vehicle climb into view, after takeoff from the taxiway. The ultralight's climb was described as very steep. The witness stated that 'the ultralight impacted the gyroplane, very hard, at the aft end striking the rudder with the ultralight[']s propeller. I could see many pieces of debris in the air at the point of impact. Both aircraft were stopped in the mid-air. The ultralight raised up into the rotor system of the gyroplane coming in contact with the rotor blade. This impact threw the ultralight off to the right, and then it came in, nose down, landing on the right side of the taxi way. The gyroplane after being hit from behind, stopped in mid-air. The rotor blade, after being hit by the ultralight, lost 7 ft. on one side (of a 29 foot blade) rendering the rotor system completely ineffective. The gyroplane then spun slowly on its side, in the air, approximately 200 ft. above ground.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanek SPORT COPTER SPORT COPT | N61887 | - | Destroyed |
| Unknown | UNREG | - | Destroyed |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1999 | Walentine RV4 | Creswell, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Dec 1999 | Beechcraft 95-B55 | Hermiston, Oregon, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 May 1999 | Cessna 182N | Granite, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 1999 | Schweizer 269C | Westport, Oregon, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Sep 1999 | Piper PA-23-160 | Hillsboro, Oregon, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Sep 1999 | Wild Goose A1 | Keizer, Oregon, United States | - | No injuries | - |