- Date
- February 20, 2000, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Wayzata, MN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N2436Kretsinger Bensen B8M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000220006809A
- Case key
- 48623
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's poor inflight planning in that he turned into a tailwind which resulted in diminished airspeed. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind, low altitude maneuvering, the snow covered terrain, and the pilot's inability to successfully perform remedial action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The gyrocopter nosed over after impacting the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The pilot reported he was practicing low level maneuvers at an altitude of about 200 feet above the frozen lake. He reported he made a left turn to the east and in doing so, he encountered a tailwind. He reported the gyrocopter began settling rapidly and he attempted to lower the nose to gain airspeed. He reported the main gear contacted the 8 inches of snow which covered the frozen lake and the gyrocopter nosed over.
Factual narrative
On February 20, 2000, at 1500 central standard time, a Kretsinger Bensen B8M gyrocopter, N2436, collided with the terrain and nosed over following a loss of control while maneuvering over Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnesota. The pilot received minor injuries and the gyrocopter was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 local flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. There was no flight plan filed. The flight originated from Medicine Lake, Minnesota, at 1400 cst.
The pilot reported he was practicing low level maneuvers at an altitude of about 200 feet above the frozen lake. He reported he made a left turn to the east and in doing so, he encountered a tailwind. He reported the gyrocopter began settling rapidly and he attempted to lower the nose to gain airspeed. He reported the main gear contacted the 8 inches of snow which covered the frozen lake and the gyrocopter nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2436
- Reported as
- Kretsinger Bensen B8M
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- BA42670
- Airframe hours
- 710
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1785CC, 72 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Eldridge U. Kretsinger
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 25, 2000 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- Medicine Lake, MN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,700 total · 710 in this make and model · 2,650 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FCM, 10 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.
Other investigations on N2436 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.