- Date
- April 2, 2000, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Monroe City, MO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1964Wilson RAF 2000 GTX SE
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000402006359A
- Case key
- 48895
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 not obtaining clearance from the trees. Factors were the trees and the ravine terrain condition.
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 sustained substantial damage on impact with a tree and terrain following a takeoff from runway 15 for a local flight. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot stated, 'I misread direction of wind from hanger area. I taxied to north end of runway and took off south with a 90 [degree] crosswind. When I passed over hanger area at the south end of runway I hit some turbulence. I should have did a emergency landing in the field south of runway, but chose to continue. At the south end of field that has trees on three sides I didn't have enough altitude to cross a ravine with trees. I hit the top of a large oak tree and fell 50 - 60 ft into the ravine.' The pilot listed his certificate and rating as private and single engine land. An on scene examination revealed no anomalies. Wind at Quincy, Illinois was 210 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot's safety recommendation stated, 'Take off the other direction.'
Factual narrative
On April 2, 2000, at 1800 central daylight time, a Wilson RAF 2000 GTX SE, N1964, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a tree and terrain following a takeoff from runway 15 (1,500 feet X 50 feet, dry/grass) at a private field near Monroe City, Missouri. The local flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. No flight plan was on file. The personal flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated, "I misread direction of wind from hanger area. I taxied to north end of runway and took off south with a 90 [degree] crosswind. When I passed over hanger area at the south end of runway I hit some turbulence. I should have did a emergency landing in the field south of runway, but chose to continue. At the south end of field that has trees on three sides I didn't have enough altitude to cross a ravine with trees. I hit the top of a large oak tree and fell 50 - 60 ft into the ravine." The pilot listed his certificate and rating as private and single engine land.
At 1552, the Quincy Municipal, Baldwin Field Airport, Quincy, Illinois weather was: Wind 210 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 3,900 feet scattered 20,000 feet; temperature 16 degrees C; dew point 7 degrees C; altimeter 29.82 inches of mercury.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed an on scene examination of the wreckage. The examination revealed no anomalies.
The pilot's safety recommendation stated, "Take off the other direction."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1964
- Reported as
- Wilson RAF 2000 GTX SE (RAF 2000 G)
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- H2-99-10-402
- Airframe hours
- 69
- Engine
- Subaru 2200 CC, 130 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Douglas R. Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 1, 2000 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- Monroe City, MO
- Airport
- runway 15, 1,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 322 total · 74 in this make and model · 271 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UIN, 31 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.