# Accident 19960404046319A: Carthage, TX, April 4, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 1996, 12:15 local time
- Place: Carthage, TX
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1520° N, 94.3371° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Carthage, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1520&lon=-94.3371&mi=10
- Aircraft: NONE (not matched to a registry record)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960404046319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON APRIL 4, 1996, @ APPROXIMATELY 1215 CST, AN UNREGISTERED BENSON GYROPLANE OPERATED BY AN UNCERTIFICATED PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A BYSTANDER DURING A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT CONDUCTED AT THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S PASTURE NEAR CARTHAGE, TEXAS. THE BYSTANDER SUSTAINED FATAL HEAD INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THIS FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE BYSTANDER WANTED TO TAKE PICTURES OF A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT. THE PILOT AGREED AND BRIEFED THE BYSTANDER. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT MOTIONED FOR THE BYSTANDER TO MOVE FURTHER OFF TO THE RIGHT AND THE BYSTANDER COMPLIED. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE BYSTANDER MOVED HIS CAMERA UP TO HIS FACE TO TAKE PICTURES AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED AND WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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