- Date
- June 13, 2003, 20:12 local (Jun 14, 2003, 01:12 UTC)
- Place
- Magnolia, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4381GMcCulloch J-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030613013359A
- Case key
- 57249
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 inadequate weight a balance calculations and inadequate preflight planning.
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 pilot stated the gyrocopter sustained substantial damage during a forced landing while he was attempting to give a ride to the passenger. The pilot emptied fuel from the right tank to adjust for the passenger's weight. After becoming airborne, the gyrocopter rolled to the right. The pilot then attempted a forced landing, during which the gyrocopter rolled approximately 10 feet then struck a drainage ditch in a grassy area off the runway. The pilot stated "This wreck could have been prevented by just saying I'm sorry but I think you weigh too much for me to give you a ride."
Factual narrative
On June 13, 2003, at 2012 central daylight time, a McCulloch J-2 gyrocopter, N4381G, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during a forced landing at Magnolia Municipal Airport (AGO), Magnolia, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In a written statement, the pilot stated he was attempting to give a ride to the passenger. The pilot emptied fuel from the right tank to adjust for the passenger's weight. After becoming airborne, the gyrocopter began to roll to the right. The pilot added that "full left stick would almost right the craft but it drifted to the right." The pilot then attempted a forced landing, during which the gyrocopter rolled approximately 10 feet and struck a drainage ditch in a grassy area off the runway.
The pilot stated, "This wreck could have been prevented by just saying I'm sorry but I think you weigh too much for me to give you a ride."
The pilot reported a total flight time of 527 hours, of which 17.5 hours were in the make and model of the accident gyrocopter.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4381G
- Reported as
- McCulloch J-2
- Category
- Gyroplane
- Serial number
- 091
- Airframe hours
- 149.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A-2-D, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Virgil William Jones
- Registered owner
- Virgil Jones & Jim Law
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 2003 · 17.5 hours before
- Departed
- AGO · Magnolia, AR
- Destination
- AGO · Magnolia, AR
- Airport
- AGO · Magnolia Municpal Airport, runway 18, 4,610 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 25, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 527 total · 18 in this make and model · 527 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- ELD, 20 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.