# NTSB FTW02LA110: Thornley Thornley 2000, N248JT, Granite Shoals, TX, April 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2002, 11:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Granite Shoals, TX - Coordinates: 30.578332, -98.340278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5783&lon=-98.3403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aivation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA110 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a power line while maneuvering. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the power lines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot took off to the north in the gyrocopter to practice takeoffs and landings, with winds light and variable. After takeoff and reaching an altitude of 90 feet agl, the aircraft stopped climbing. As the aircraft was now near the departure end of the runway, the pilot elected not to try landing on the runway, feeling he would overshoot the runway into a wooded field. The pilot proceeded northward and initiated a gentle turn to the right, intending to land on the runway to the south; however, the aircraft continued to lose altitude. When the pilot was 90 degrees into his turn, he felt he was getting too far east of the runway, at which time he decided to land to the east on an east-west roadway which bordered the north boundary of the runway. As the pilot "straightened out," the aircraft stopped losing altitude, but was now barely above treetop level. Preparing to land, the pilot's attention was diverted as he was looking for cars, overhanging trees, power lines, and TV lines, resulting in the aircraft's wheels impacting the top strand of a power line. The aircraft broke through the power lines, impacted terrain, and came to rest on its left side. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2002, approximately 1120 central standard time, a Thornley 2000 experimental/homebuilt gyrocopter, N248JT, was substantially damaged when it impacted power lines and terrain while maneuvering near Granite Shoals, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant, received serious injuries. The Subaru powered gyrocopter was owned by a private individual and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from Granite Shoals at 1100. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that he took off to the north to practice takeoffs and landings, with winds light and variable, "and everything seemed to be functioning properly." After takeoff and reaching an altitude of 90 feet agl, the aircraft stopped climbing. The pilot stated "by the time it became clear to me that I should be concerned, I was so close to the departure end of the runway, that I was afraid to attempt a runway landing for fear of overshooting into the wooded field at the north end of the runway." He proceeded northward and initiated a gentle turn to the right, intending to land on the runway to the south; however, the aircraft continued to lose altitude. Ninety degrees into his turn, the pilot reported "I was venturing too far east of the runway to make a safe return to the airport. At this point I made the decision to land to the east on an east-west roadway which bordered the north boundary of the runway". As the pilot "straightened out," the aircraft stopped losing altitude, but was now barely above treetop level. Preparing to land, the pilot said his attention was diverted, as he was looking for cars, overhanging trees, power lines, and TV lines. The pilot further stated that this resulted in the aircraft's wheels impacting the top strand of a power line. The aircraft broke through the power lines and impacted terrain, coming to rest on its left side. The pilot reported his total time in this make and model aircraft was 162 hours, with 121 hours as pilot in command. He also reported that in the last 90 days, 30 days, and 24 hours respectively, he had accumulated 1 hour of flight time. According to an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the gyrocopter's cockpit area was intact, all rotor blades were bent, and the remaining structure was bent and twisted. At 1053, the reported weather conditions at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located approximately 40 miles southeast of the accident site, were wind from 150 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, temperature 28 degrees C, dew point 19 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N248JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N248JT-2002-08-15), registration cancelled 2002-08-15, S/N H2-00-11-461, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thornley Thornley 2000 - Registry model: [Thornley Johnny THORNLEY 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/thornley-johnny-thornley-2000) (registry code 05610X6) (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: H2-00-11-461 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Johnny Thornley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2001, 52 hours before - Departed: 32TE, Granite Shoals, TX - Airport: 32TE, Granite Shoals Muni Airport, runway 02, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 162 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 20020402007069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020402007069A), Apr 2, 2002: Amtr RAF2000, Marble Falls, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 2, 2002, approximately at 11:20 CST, a thornley 2000 gyrocopter, N248JT was substantially damaged, when the pilot was unable to maintain… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54453. 552 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 431 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422550&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422551&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.