- Date
- November 13, 1988, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sullivan, IL
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGAir Command 503
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 14223
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft.
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.
Loss of control - in flight
Aircraft control - not maintainedCause
Lack of total experienceFactor
In flight collision with terrain/water
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Air Command 503
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- O386
- Engine
- Rotax 3693276, 47 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William E. Fifer
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6 total · 6 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DEC, 19 nm away