Stuart RAF 2000 GTX SE N60739
27 March 2000 · Overton, Nevada, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 27 March 2000 at about 19:24 local time, a Stuart RAF 2000 GTX SE registered N60739 was involved in an accident near Overton, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one 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 19:24
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Overton, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Perkins Field (U08)
- Coordinates
- 36.3894, -114.3694
- Aircraft
- Stuart RAF 2000 GTX SE
- Registration
- N60739
- Category
- Gyrocraft
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX00LA140
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to obtain/maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inexperience in rotorcraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The gyrocopter was seen porpoising over the runway when it became inverted and impacted the runway from 100 feet agl. The gyrocopter was destroyed in the ensuing post-impact fire. The pilot had indicated to a hangar mate and his spouse that this was the maiden flight. The pilot had purchased the gyrocopter a year earlier and conducted only taxi runs and engine ground runs during that time. A witness saw him take off and immediately saw the gyrocopter porpoising. The gyrocopter left the airport environment for a few minutes and then made a turn back towards the runway. The porpoising was observed to have stopped, and then started up again with an increase in intensity. A witness heard the engine power back and then saw the gyrocopter become inverted and impact the runway. Another witness stated that he saw the gyrocopter takeoff and noted that the main rotor blades appeared to be turning slowly. A review of the pilot's airman's certificate revealed that he did not hold a rotorcraft rating.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Nov 2000 | Cessna 185F | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Stinson 108-2 | Minden, Nevada, United States | William E. Yoder | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Dickenson AVID MAGNUM | Ely, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 2000 | Bell 412 | Cold Springs, Nevada, United States | US Department of Interior | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Sep 2000 | Stevens STARDUSTER II AS300 | N. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Nov 2000 | Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO-105CBS-5 | Parumph, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |