# NTSB CEN11LA506: Gottschalk John R John 1, N559RD, Oshkosh, WI, July 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 2011, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 44.009429, -88.550422 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0094&lon=-88.5504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81222 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA506 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81222/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81222 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA506 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which led to the power required exceeding the power available and resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=05627HY), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=05627HY), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05627HY), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05627HY), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05627HY), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the gyroplane reached about 75 to 100 feet above ground level when it started to settle. He reported that the gyroplane was not creating enough lift to clear the trees located near the west end of the runway and that he did not have enough airspeed or altitude to turn around. The gyroplane continued to lose altitude and the pilot performed a forced landing to an area that was clear of people and cars. The gyroplane landed hard and subsequently rolled onto its right side. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the gyroplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2011, about 1245 central daylight time, an amateur-built Gottschalk John 1 “Dominator” gyroplane, N559RD, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard after losing lift during takeoff from runway 33 at the grass ultralight airstrip at the Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, during the 2011 AirVenture air show. The private pilot was not injured. The gyroplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The gyroplane was departing from the airstrip on a local flight at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the gyroplane was traveling about 50 – 55 mph during the takeoff roll when he initiated the climb out. He reported that during the climb out over the last one-third of the runway, the gyroplane started to “settle” and it felt like it was being “pushed down.” He reported that the gyroplane was not creating enough lift to clear the trees located near the west end of the runway, and he did not have enough airspeed or altitude to turn around. The gyroplane continued to lose altitude, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a zone that was clear of people and cars. The gyroplane landed hard and subsequently rolled onto its right side. A witness reported that the gyroplane climbed to 75 – 100 feet above the ground. It stalled, descended quickly, impacted the ground, and flipped over on its side. The pilot reported stated, “A stronger engine may have been able to provide enough power to push through the air.” The gyroplane was equipped with a 65-horsepower Rotax 582 engine, and it had a maximum gross weight of 770 pounds. The pilot reported that the takeoff weight for the accident flight was 645 pounds. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. The pilot held a private pilot license with single-engine land and helicopter ratings. He had a solo endorsement for gyroplanes. He had a total of 336 flight hours which consisted of 257 hours in a single-engine airplane, 79 hours in helicopters, and 17 hours in the make and model of the accident gyroplane. At 1235, the surface weather observation at OSH was: wind 240 degrees at 5 knots; 10 miles visibility; clear skies; temperature 27 degrees Celsius; dew point 14 degress Celsius; altimeter 29.98. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N559RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N559RD), registered now, S/N JG001, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GOTTSCHALK JOHN R JOHN 1 - Registry model: [Gottschalk John R JOHN 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/gottschalk-john-r-john-1) (registry code 05627HY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JG001 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul Minear - Registered owner: Paul Minear - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 10, 2011 - Departed: OSH, Oshkosh, IL - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, IL - Airport: OSH, Wittman Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 336 total, 17 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OSH, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110725014259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110725014259A), Jul 25, 2011: Gottschalk John R JOHN 1, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. On July 25, 2011 at approximetly 1235 CDT the gyrocopter rotated normally from runway 33 in the ultralite area, however it was unable to establish a climb… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81222. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 394 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Pilot's Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Aircraft Logbook (item 5, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Weight and Balance (item 6, .PDF, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.