# Accident 20090314004059A: Mcnear EXPLORERCOU, Okeechobee, FL, March 14, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 14, 2009, 10:16 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Airport: Okeechobee County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.2664° N, 80.8503° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2664&lon=-80.8503&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5098L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5098L-2009-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcnear Joseph P EXPLORER COUPE 2000 (registry code 056040A, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcnear-joseph-p-explorer-coupe-2000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCNEAR EXPLORERCOU
- Reported engine: AMTR EJ25
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 9,500 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090314004059A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON MARCH 14, 2009, AT 1016 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AMATEUR BUILT/EXPERIMENTAL EXPLORER COUPE 2000, N5098L, EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OPERATIONAL CONTROL DURING TAXIING, AT KOBE, IN OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA.  AS A RESULT OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED INTO THE GRASS IMPACTING THE ROTOR BLADE IN THE GRASS OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY.  THE GYROCOPTER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT ON THE TAXIWAY AND BLOODSTAINS WERE PRESENT ON THE TAXIWAY WHERE THE PILOT WAS EJECTED.  THE GYROCOPTER TRAVELED 106 FEET AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT.  NINE PROPELLER BLADE STRIKES WERE PRESENT ON THE TAXIWAY.  WHILE SLIDING ON ITS LEFT SIDE, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CAME OFF THE TAXIWAY WITH EVIDENCE OF SEVEN LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SIDEWALL MARKS PRESENT ON THE TAXIWAY.  THE GYROCOPTER CONTINUED FORWARD 15 FEET WHERE THE MAST OF THE GYROCOPTER CONTACTED THE TAXIWAY.  THE ROTOR BLADES REMAINED ATTACHED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ROTOR HUB AND WERE LYING ACROSS THE AFT PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM. THE NOSE MAIN LANDING GEAR, LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND THE TAIL WHEEL REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE AIRFRAME.  THE CRASH DEBRIS LINE EXTENDED 230 FEET.  THE GYROCOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE ON A HEADING OF 080 DEGREES MAGNETIC.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA09LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA198), Mar 14, 2009: McNear Explorer Coupe (N5098L), Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the gyrocopter while taxiing for takeoff.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.