# NTSB FTW80FRG32: Bensen Gyro, N3783T, Los Fresnos, TX, March 24, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 24, 1980
- Place: Los Fresnos, TX · LOS FRESNOS, TX
- Location: 26.0744° N, 97.4875° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Los Fresnos, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0744&lon=-97.4875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132011
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FRG32
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRG32

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0565  80/3/24  NR.LOS FRESNOS,TX     BENSEN GYRO         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             CERTIFICATE UNKNOWN, AGE
        TIME - 1030                    N3783T              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  68, UNK/NR TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN BENITO,TX               CAMERON,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                 3800
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      79
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           30                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ROTOR BLADE FLX'D INTO RUDDER IN FLIGHT.ARPT WIND RPT'D G25 KTS.WIND AT ACDT SITE RPT'D 25G45 KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3783T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3783T-2011-04-08), registration cancelled 2011-04-08, S/N 3946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BENSEN GYRO
- Registry model: [Thom Wesley R BENSEN B-8M](https://openairdocs.org/model/thom-wesley-r-bensen-b-8m) (registry code 13021CV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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