# NTSB CHI08CA131: Kuntz Kuntz 2000 GTS EFI, N610RD, Dickinson, ND, May 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2008, 21:00 local (May 10, 2008, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Dickinson, ND - Coordinates: 46.886112, -102.782775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8861&lon=-102.7828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68168/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA131 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the precautionary landing at night. Contributing to the accident was the pilot becoming lost after inadvertently encountering fog while en route, the night lighting conditions, and the fence that the gyrocopter impacted during the landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: fog](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05617ZK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the ground visibility was about 4 miles at the time of his departure. The intended destination was the pilot's farm, located about 17 miles northwest of the departure airport. While en route, about 2 miles from the intended destination, the airplane encountered fog and the pilot decided to return to the departure airport. The pilot stated that he "lost direction" and performed a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing rollout the gyrocopter impacted a fence and nosed over. The vertical fin, rudder, horizontal stabilizer, rotor head, rotor blades, and propeller were damaged. The weather conditions at the departure airport were visibility 4 miles with mist, broken ceiling at 200 feet above ground level (agl), overcast ceiling at 2,800 feet agl, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, and dew point 3 degrees Celsius. The accident occurred at night, about 12 minutes after civil twilight had ended. The pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had called a neighbor prior to departure to determine what the actual weather conditions were near his intended destination. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the ground visibility was about 4 miles at the time of his departure. The intended destination was the pilot's farm, located about 17 miles northwest of the departure airport. While en route, about 2 miles from the intended destination, the airplane encountered fog and the pilot decided to return to the departure airport. The pilot stated that he "lost direction" and performed a precautionary landing in a field. During landing rollout the gyrocopter impacted a fence and nosed over. The vertical fin, rudder, horizontal stabilizer, rotor head, rotor blades, and propeller were damaged. The weather conditions at the departure airport were visibility 4 miles with mist, broken ceiling at 200 feet above ground level (agl), overcast ceiling at 2,800 feet agl, temperature 4 degrees Celsius, and dew point 3 degrees Celsius. The accident occurred at night, about 12 minutes after civil twilight had ended. The pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented if he had called a neighbor prior to departure to determine what the actual weather conditions were near his intended destination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N610RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N610RD), registered now, S/N 495, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kuntz Kuntz 2000 GTS EFI - Registry model: [Kuntz Randy P KUNTZ 2000 GTSEFI](https://openairdocs.org/model/kuntz-randy-p-kuntz-2000-gtsefi) (registry code 05617ZK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 495 - Airframe hours: 230 - Engines: Subaru EJ25 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2007 - Departed: DIK, Dickinson, ND - Destination: PVT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 515 total, 398 in this make and model, 461 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 50° at 11 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 200 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: DIK, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080509839079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080509839079A), May 9, 2008: KUNTZ2000, Dickinson, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 9, 2008 and experimental aircraft (gyroplane), KUNTZ2000, N610RD and piloted by [privacy data omitted] received substantial damage while… 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.