# NTSB DFW06CA196: Pearson Superfly, N975JP, Denton, TX, August 6, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2006, 15:11 local (20:11 UTC)
- Place: Denton, TX
- Coordinates: 33.121112, -97.069442
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1211&lon=-97.0694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA196
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64298/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA196

## Probable cause

The loss of control as result of the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area.  A contributing factor was the muddy terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The 500-hour private pilot, who reported having accumulated a total of 300-hours in make and model, was landing the single-seat homebuilt gyrocraft at the edge of a dried-up lakebed.  The pilot stated that he made a power-on landing to keep the weight off the landing gear.  Upon touchdown, the gear broke through the thin crust and was "mired in 15 inches deep mud."  The tricycle gear equipped gyrocopter tipped to the right and yawed to the left as the main rotor impacted the ground and the rotor mast was sheared at the engine mount.  The Rotax powered gyrocraft came to rest on its right side and the pilot was able to egress the aircraft unassisted.  The pilot reported that there were no problems with the gyro's flight controls or engine prior to the mishap.  The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

The 500-hour private pilot, who reported having accumulated a total of 300-hours in make and model, was landing the single-seat homebuilt gyrocraft at the edge of a dried-up lakebed.  The pilot stated that we made a power-on landing to keep the weight off the landing gear.  Upon touchdown, the gear broke through the thin crust and was "mired in 15 inches deep mud."  The tricycle gear equipped gyrocopter tipped to the right and yawed to the left as the main rotor impacted the ground and the rotor mast was sheared at the engine mount.  The Rotax powered gyrocraft came to rest on its right side and the pilot was able to egress the aircraft unassisted.  The pilot reported that there were no problems with the gyro's flight controls or engine prior to the mishap.  The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N975JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N975JP-2006-09-14), registration cancelled 2006-09-14, S/N 001, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pearson Superfly
- Registry model: [Pearson Jon M PEARSON-SUPERFLY](https://openairdocs.org/model/pearson-jon-m-pearson-superfly) (registry code 05621DR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Engines: Rotax 582UL 66 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 30F, LAKE DALLAS, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 500 total, 300 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F

## 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 20060806014569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060806014569A), Aug 6, 2006: Pearso SUPERFLY, Lake Lewisvill, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated he was approaching a landing area on the shoreline near lake lewisville. When the main gear touched down in the soft mud the aircraft…

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.

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