- Date
- January 15, 1991, 15:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Tomahawk, WI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- UNREGAir Command 503
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 14836
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-in-command's abrupt movement of the flight controls which resulted in loss of rotor RPM and eventual departure from controlled flight. A factor contributing was ice accumulation on the pilot's face resulting in pilot incapacitation (visual deficienty).
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 of an unregistered gyro-copter was making takeoffs and landings in conditions conducive to icing. He made a landing and complained of ice on his glasses to a witness. When no goggles could be located he stated that he would make one more takeoff and landing. On the downwind leg of the flight the aircraft was observed by witnesses to depart controlled flight, tumble, and impact the terrain. Witnesses stated that during an attempt to revive the pilot he had an accumulation of one quarter inch of ice over his eyes and face.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Air Command 503
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 47 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles R. May
- Airport
- WI46 · Tomahawk Regional, runway 27, 4,000 × 25 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Flight hours
- 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg